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The Oahe Dam is a large dam along the Missouri River, just north of Pierre, South Dakota in the United States. It creates Lake Oahe, the fourth largest artificial reservoir in the United States, which stretches 231 miles (372 km) up the course of the Missouri to Bismarck, North Dakota. The dam's powerplant provides electricity for much of the north-central United States. It is named for the Oahe Indian Mission established among the Lakota Sioux in 1874. The project provides flood control, electric power, irrigation, and navigation benefits, estimated by the Corps of Engineers at $150,000,000 per year.
History
In September and October 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through what is now Lake Oahe while exploring the Missouri River.
Oahe Dam was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944, and construction by the United States Army Corps of Engineers began in 1948. The earth and shale main dam reached its full height in October, 1959. It was officially dedicated by President John F. Kennedy on August 17, 1962, the year in which it began generating power. The original project cost was $340,000,000.
Statistics
The lower Oahe Reservoir and Oahe Dam are near the bottom of this view; Lake Sharpe and Big Bend Dam are near the top, as seen from space, August, 1989. Pierre, South Dakota is near the bottom of the photo; Chamberlain, South Dakota is near the top. South-east is at the top.Dam height: 245 feet (75 m)
Dam volume of earth fill: 92,000,000 cubic yards (70,000,000 m³)
Dam volume of concrete: 1,122,000 cubic yards (858,000 m³)
Spillway width: 456 feet (139 m)
Spillway crest elevation: 1,596.5 feet (486.6 m)
Lake maximum depth: 205 feet (62 m)
Plant discharge 56,000 cubic feet/second (1600 cubic meters/second)
Water speed through intake tunnels: 11 mph (5 m/s)
Intake tunnel length: 3,650 feet (average) (1110 m)
Number of turbines: 7, Francis type, 100 RPM
Power generated per turbine: 112,290 kW
reservoir storage capacity: 23.5 million acre-feet (29 km³).
States served with electricity: North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Montana
Number of recreation areas around lake: 51
Shore length: 2,250 miles (3,620 km)
Counties bordering lake: 14, including 4 in North Dakota (Burleigh, Emmons, Morton, Sioux), and 10 in South Dakota (Campbell, Corson, Dewey, Haakon, Hughes, Potter, Stanley, Sully, Walworth, and Ziebach)