Gifford No.1

TR WHITE THUNDER OFFSTREAM· Mellette, South Dakota· Built 1940· Earth· 26 ft tall

Key Takeaway

Gifford No.1 is classified as low hazard in South Dakota. It was completed in 1940 and is 86 years old. Its primary use is fire protection.

Physical Details

Dam Height 26 ft (taller than 65.2% in SD)
Dam Length367 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage78 acre-ft
Normal Storage74 acre-ft
Max Discharge274 cfs
Year Completed1940 (86 years old)
NID IDSD01422

Safety Information

Low Hazard

No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: No
State Regulated: Yes
Regulatory Agency: DANR

Ownership

GIFFORD

Private

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Gifford No.1?

Gifford No.1 is classified as Low Hazard. No probable loss of human life and low economic/environmental losses expected. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Gifford No.1?

Gifford No.1 is owned by GIFFORD (Private). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Gifford No.1 built?

Gifford No.1 was completed in 1940, making it 86 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

What is the primary purpose of Gifford No.1?

Gifford No.1 serves the following purposes: Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond, Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Gifford No.1?

Gifford No.1 has a dam height of 26 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.