Red Dale Gulch

DEAD MAN GULCH· Pennington, South Dakota· Built 1959· Earth· 42 ft tall
High Hazard Local Government

Key Takeaway

Red Dale Gulch is classified as high hazard in South Dakota. It was completed in 1959 and is 67 years old. High hazard means loss of life is likely if the dam fails — it does not indicate the dam's current condition. Learn more.

Physical Details

Dam Height 42 ft (taller than 97.3% in SD)
Dam Length1,320 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage155 acre-ft
Normal Storage110 acre-ft
Max Discharge17,500 cfs
Year Completed1959 (67 years old)
NID IDSD01098

Safety Information

High Hazard

Loss of human life is likely if the dam fails.

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

Emergency Action Plan: Yes
State Regulated: No

Ownership

Common Council of the City of Rapid City, South Dakota

Local Government

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Red Dale Gulch?

Red Dale Gulch is classified as High Hazard. Loss of human life is likely if the dam fails. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Red Dale Gulch?

Red Dale Gulch is owned by Common Council of the City of Rapid City, South Dakota (Local Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Red Dale Gulch built?

Red Dale Gulch was completed in 1959, making it 67 years old. Many U.S. dams were built between the 1930s and 1970s during a period of major infrastructure investment.

How tall is Red Dale Gulch?

Red Dale Gulch has a dam height of 42 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.