White River Association #3

TR BIG WHITE OFFSTREAM· Mellette, South Dakota· Built 1957· Earth· 31 ft tall

Key Takeaway

White River Association #3 is classified as low hazard in South Dakota. It was completed in 1957 and is 69 years old. Its primary use is fire protection.

Physical Details

Dam Height 31 ft (taller than 88.8% in SD)
Dam Length639 ft
Dam TypeEarth
Max Storage74 acre-ft
Normal Storage67 acre-ft
Max Discharge129 cfs
Year Completed1957 (69 years old)
NID IDSD01533

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

WHITE RIVER GRAZING ASSN.

Private

Nearby Dams

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of White River Association #3?

White River Association #3 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 White River Association #3?

White River Association #3 is owned by WHITE RIVER GRAZING ASSN. (Private). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

When was White River Association #3 built?

White River Association #3 was completed in 1957, making it 69 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 White River Association #3?

White River Association #3 serves the following purposes: Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond, Irrigation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is White River Association #3?

White River Association #3 has a dam height of 31 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.