Water Storage Dams Please complete this section if your proposed water source is from a dam or dams. If more than one dam is being used, please note the number of dams and provide dimensions for each dam. The designer of your dam or dams should be able to provide you most of this information. To comply with these rules you will need to have plans and specifications prepared for each dam and a preliminary risk assessment describing downstream hazards if the dam or dams should breach. A South Dakota registered professional engineer or someone employed by a federal or state agency who does dam design work as part of their job while under the supervision of a professional engineer can prepare the plans and specifications and the risk assessment.
Many applicants choose to use an aerial photo for their application map.
Aerial photos, such as the one shown as an example, can be obtained from your local Farm Services Agency. If your proposed project relates to services provided by the Farm Services Agency or Natural Resources Conservation Service, someone in one of these agencies may be able to assist you with completion of the map. Other applicants may have existing plat maps available which will suffice or which a registered land surveyor or professional engineer could modify to meet the above requirements. If your application is approved, a licensing inspection will be completed following development of your water use project. Issuance of a water license is the final step in obtaining a water right in South Dakota.