Ft. Randall Dam - Pickstown, SD
Posted by: 
dbrockhouse
N 43° 04.034 W 098° 33.248
14T E 536302 N 4768377
Ft. Randall Dam on the Missouri River just west of Pickstown, SD
Waymark Code: WMAV0R
Location: South Dakota, United States
Date Posted: 02/25/2011
Views: 6
The Fort Randall Dam is an earth embankment dam impounding the Missouri River in South Dakota, United States and forming Lake Francis Case. It is one of six Missouri River dams, four being located in South Dakota.
The dam was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944 and plays a key role in the Pick-Sloan Plan for development of water resources in the Missouri River basin. The Corps of Engineers began construction of Fort Randall Dam in 1946, and it was the first Pick-Sloan dam completed by the Omaha District. President Dwight D. Eisenhower threw the switch that started the first power generating unit in 1954. When completed in 1956, Fort Randall Dam and the Lake Francis Case Project cost approximately $200 million.
The eight generating units of the Fort Randall Dam are capable of generating 40 megawatts of electricity each. The combined maximum capacity of 320 megawatts is enough to supply 245,000 households, according to the Corps of Engineers. The river behind the dam drains an area of 263,480 mi² (682,410 km²). Its reservoir, Lake Francis Case, has a surface area of 102,000 acres (413 km²) at maximum operating pool, coinciding with a volume of 5,700,000 acre feet (7 km³).
The Fort Randall Dam is located in southeast South Dakota within sight of its namesake Fort Randall at 43°04'04?N 98°33'00?W? / ?43.06778°N 98.55°W? / 43.06778; -98.55 (NAD83); by Pickstown, South Dakota on the east bank of the river; 12 miles (19 km) west of Wagner, South Dakota, on South Dakota Highway 46; and 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Spencer, Nebraska, on U.S. Highway 281.
Waterway where the dam is located: Missouri River - South Dakota
Main use of the Water Dam: Flood Control
Material used in the structure: embankment
Date built: 01/01/1956
Fishing Allowed: yes
Motor Sports Allowed: yes
Height of Dam: Not listed
|
Visit Instructions:
Photo of the Dam and a description of your visit.