Over the course of five days, two Banner employees provided dam inspection services to twenty dams of various types and conditions in multiple locations for the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP). Some of the dams were earthen dams and others concrete, for large and small recreational lakes alike. Dams were near towns, in state parks, and some in remote locations. A few of the dams were nearly 90 years old. The spillway designs also varied widely, from straight concrete cutoff walls to long grassy channels with three drop structures. The Banner team of two traveled to each location and inspected each individual component including the approach, spillway structure, stilling basin, dam structure, outlet works, toe drains, and erosion protection. The team noted items like wear, erosion, problematic vegetation, and deficiencies in a detailed report on the condition of each dam, which also included recommendations for repair/replacement, cost estimates for repair/replacement, and an up-to-date dam hazard level recommendation. 

Project Goal # 1

Safely inspect and assess the condition of dams across southwestern South Dakota

Project Goal # 2

Determine if a structure should be repaired or replaced

Project Goal # 3

Evaluate hazard level

Project Goal # 4

Estimate construction costs for repair or replacement

Project Goal # 5

Summarize observations and recommendations in a comprehensive report