Lake Francis Case

Lake Francis Case is a large reservoir impounded by Fort Randall Dam on the Missouri River in south-central South Dakota, United States. The lake has an area of 102,000 acres (410 km2) and a maximum depth of 140 ft (43 m).[1] Lake Francis Case has a length of approximately 107 mi (172 km) and has a shoreline of 540 mi (870 km).[1] The lake is the eleventh-largest reservoir in the United States and is located within the counties of: Charles Mix, Gregory, Lyman, Brule, and Buffalo. The lake stretches from Pickstown, South Dakota upstream to Big Bend Dam.

Lake Francis Case
Fort Randall Dam, with Lake Francis Case in the background
LocationSouth Dakota,
United States
Coordinates43°03′35″N 98°33′43″W
TypeReservoir
Primary inflowsMissouri River, White River
Primary outflowsMissouri River
Catchment area263,480 sq mi (682,400 km2)[1]
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length107 mi (172 km)[1]
Surface area102,000 acres (41,000 ha)[1]
Max. depth140 ft (43 m)[1]
Water volume5,700,000 acre⋅ft (7.0 km3)[1]
Shore length1540 mi (870 km)[1]
Surface elevation1,355 ft (413 m)[2]
SettlementsPickstown, Oacoma, and Chamberlain
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The reservoir is named for former United States Senator Francis Higbee Case, of South Dakota.[3]

U.S. Senator (1951-1962) Francis H. Case of South Dakota, the lake's namesake.

History

The Fort Randall Dam and concomitant reservoir were authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944 and built next to a historic 1856 military base: Fort Randall. The dam began construction by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1946, and in 1954, its operation was inaugurated by then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower.[4] The resulting reservoir, Lake Francis Case, flooded White Swan, a Native American settlement that had existed along the river. The population of the community was forced to move elsewhere, with many settling in Lake Andes, South Dakota.[5] Lake Andes, nevertheless, experiences flooding.[6]

Fish and wildlife

Species of fish in the reservoir include walleye, northern pike, sauger, sunfish, yellow perch, common carp, black bullhead, channel catfish, and smallmouth bass.[7]

Big game animals around the lake include whitetail and mule deer, coyotes and wild turkeys. Waterfowl and upland game birds include ducks, geese, pheasants, prairie chickens, and grouse. The Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge is located just downstream of the lake, as a sanctuary for wintering bald eagles. Bald eagles are commonly spotted around the dam during winter months.

Recreation

The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks (GFP) maintains several Lakeside Use Areas for lake access around the lake. In addition, the GFP operates seven State Recreation Areas on Lake Francis Case:

Lake crossings

Several major highways cross Lake Francis Case. South Dakota Highway 44 crosses over the lake between rural Charles Mix County and Gregory County on the longest bridge in South Dakota,[16] and Interstate 90 crosses the reservoir between Chamberlain and Oacoma.

See also
  • List of lakes in South Dakota

References
  1. "Lake Francis Case & Power Plant". United States Army Corps of Engineers. Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lake Francis Case
  3. "Welcome to the Fort Randall Project Homepage". United States Army Corps of Engineers. Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  4. https://tataandhoward.com/tag/lake-francis-case/
  5. http://mri.usd.edu/watertrail/culturalsites/whiteswan.html
  6. https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2019/09/24/south-dakota-says-no-yankton-sioux-tribes-ask-national-guard-help-flooding/2430908001/
  7. "Annual Fish Population and Angler Use and Sport Fish Harvest Surveys on Lake Francis Case, South Dakota, 2007" (PDF). South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. 2007. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
  8. North Point Recreation Area
  9. Randall Creek Recreation Area
  10. Pease Creek Recreation Area
  11. North Wheeler Recreation Area
  12. Platte Creek Recreation Area
  13. Snake Creek Recreation Area
  14. Buryanek Recreation Area
  15. American Creek Campground
  16. "General Information/Key Facts". South Dakota Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2010-04-25.
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