Petersen No. 1

TRIB. LITTLE WHITE RIVER· Mellette, South Dakota· Built 1960· Earth· 26 ft tall

Key Takeaway

Petersen No. 1 is classified as low hazard in South Dakota. It was completed in 1960 and is 66 years old. Its primary use is fire protection.

Physical Details

Dam Height 26 ft (taller than 65.2% in SD)
Dam Length30 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage17 acre-ft
Normal Storage4 acre-ft
Max Discharge250 cfs
Year Completed1960 (66 years old)
NID IDSD01280

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

ENIER PETERSEN

Private

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Petersen No. 1?

Petersen 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 Petersen No. 1?

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

When was Petersen No. 1 built?

Petersen No. 1 was completed in 1960, making it 66 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 Petersen No. 1?

Petersen 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 Petersen No. 1?

Petersen 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.