Turtle Creek Dam

TR-GRAND RIVER· Harding, South Dakota· Built 1948· Earth· 21 ft tall

Key Takeaway

Turtle Creek Dam is classified as low hazard in South Dakota. It was completed in 1948 and is 78 years old. Its primary use is fire protection.

Physical Details

Dam Height 21 ft (taller than 40.7% in SD)
Dam Length470 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage84 acre-ft
Normal Storage68 acre-ft
Max Discharge1,875 cfs
Year Completed1948 (78 years old)
NID IDSD01201

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

HARRY BLAIR AND SON

Private

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Turtle Creek Dam?

Turtle Creek Dam 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 Turtle Creek Dam?

Turtle Creek Dam is owned by HARRY BLAIR AND SON (Private). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was Turtle Creek Dam built?

Turtle Creek Dam was completed in 1948, making it 78 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 Turtle Creek Dam?

Turtle Creek Dam 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 Turtle Creek Dam?

Turtle Creek Dam has a dam height of 21 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.