Klondike Mill Dam


River/Stream: Big Sioux River

Location: Klondike, Lyon County
        Latitude: 43.386195
        Longitude: -96.521661
        Click here for an aerial view of the dam location.

Built: 1883. Rehabilitation to rock arch rapids completed in 2013.

Click here to enlarge image

View of dam after conversion to rock arch rapids (during high water.)

Owner: S. Dak. Dept of Schools & Land / Iowa DNR

Height: formerly 12 ft.

Length: formerly 175 ft.

Hazards: varying, visibility -- significantly reduced by rehabilitation project

Warning Signs: no longer needed.

Portage Options: scout your route through the rock arch rapids.

Comments: conversion to rock arch rapids completed in March, 2013 using 400 metric tons of rock to maintain water level for infiltration of wells upstream. Rapids will allow fish to migrate up the river.

Fatalities: none in Iowa documented during archive searches. Several drownings have occurred at low head dams upstream in South Dakota.


Photos courtesy of Iowa DNR


Rubble Dams Downstream of Klondike on the Big Sioux