Joe Papousek

TR BAD RIVER· Pennington, South Dakota· Built 1950· Earth· 16 ft tall

Key Takeaway

Joe Papousek is classified as low hazard in South Dakota. It was completed in 1950 and is 76 years old. Its primary use is fire protection.

Physical Details

Dam Height 16 ft (taller than 15.7% in SD)
Dam Length470 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage86 acre-ft
Normal Storage53 acre-ft
Max Discharge725 cfs
Year Completed1950 (76 years old)
NID IDSD01977

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

RICHARD PAPOUSEK AND FAMILY

Private

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Joe Papousek?

Joe Papousek 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 Joe Papousek?

Joe Papousek is owned by RICHARD PAPOUSEK AND FAMILY (Private). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Joe Papousek built?

Joe Papousek was completed in 1950, making it 76 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 Joe Papousek?

Joe Papousek serves the following purposes: Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Joe Papousek?

Joe Papousek has a dam height of 16 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.