Lake Oahe

Lake Oahe
Lake name	Lake Oahe
Location	North Dakota, South Dakota
Coordinates	44.45°N 100.40°W
Type	Reservoir
Inflow	Missouri River
Outflow	Missouri River
Catchment	273,000 sq mi
Basin countries	United States
Surface elevation	1,620 ft
Length	231 mi
Width	1-3 mi
Max depth	205 ft
Water volume	23,500,000 acre·ft
Residence time	17 months
Shore length	2,250 mi

Lake Oahe is a large reservoir located on the Missouri River along the borders of North Dakota and South Dakota, near the cities of Bismarck, North Dakota, and Pierre, South Dakota. The lake is named after the Oahe Mission, a Christian mission established by the Congregational Church in the 19th century, which was later relocated due to the construction of the Oahe Dam by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The lake is also close to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, home of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, home of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The construction of the lake was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and was completed in 1962, with the help of Senator Karl Mundt and Senator Francis Case.

Geography

The lake stretches for 231 miles, from the Oahe Dam near Pierre, South Dakota, to the Garrison Dam near Riverdale, North Dakota. The lake's shoreline is approximately 2,250 miles long, and its surface elevation is around 1,620 feet above sea level. The lake is situated near the Missouri River Valley, which was carved out by the Missouri River over millions of years, and is also close to the Great Plains region, which includes the states of Montana, Wyoming, and Nebraska. The lake is surrounded by several counties, including Hughes County, South Dakota, Sully County, South Dakota, and Emmons County, North Dakota, and is near the cities of Mobridge, South Dakota, and McLaughlin, South Dakota. The lake's geography is also influenced by the Prairie Pothole Region, a region of wetlands and prairies that stretches across the northern Great Plains, and is home to the North Dakota State University and the South Dakota State University.

History

The construction of the Oahe Dam began in 1958, and was completed in 1962, with the help of President John F. Kennedy, and Senator George McGovern. The dam was built to provide hydroelectric power, flood control, and irrigation for the surrounding areas, and was designed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, with the help of Bechtel Group and Parsons Corporation. The lake was filled with water from the Missouri River, which was diverted from its natural course, and the resulting reservoir was named Lake Oahe, after the Oahe Mission. The construction of the lake had a significant impact on the local Native American tribes, including the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, who were forced to relocate their homes and communities, with the help of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Indian Health Service. The lake's history is also tied to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which passed through the area in 1804, and the Fort Laramie Treaty, which was signed in 1851, and established the boundaries of the Great Sioux Reservation.

Hydrology

The lake's water level is controlled by the Oahe Dam, which is operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, with the help of the National Weather Service, and the United States Geological Survey. The lake's water level is typically around 1,620 feet above sea level, but can fluctuate depending on the amount of precipitation and runoff in the surrounding area, which is monitored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The lake's water is used for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and drinking water supply, and is also home to several fish species, including walleye, northern pike, and channel catfish, which are managed by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, and the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. The lake's hydrology is also influenced by the Missouri River Basin, which includes the states of Montana, Wyoming, and Nebraska, and is home to the Missouri River Basin Association, and the Western Area Power Administration.

Ecology

The lake's ecosystem is diverse and supports a wide range of plant and animal species, including waterfowl, fish, and mammals, which are protected by the Endangered Species Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The lake's shoreline is lined with trees, including cottonwood and willow, and its waters are home to several aquatic plant species, including cattail and bulrush, which are managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. The lake is also an important stopover point for migratory birds, including ducks, geese, and sandpipers, which are protected by the Migratory Bird Conservation Act, and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. The lake's ecology is also influenced by the Prairie Pothole Region, a region of wetlands and prairies that stretches across the northern Great Plains, and is home to the Dakota Zoo, and the Great Plains Zoo.

Recreation

The lake offers a wide range of recreational activities, including boating, fishing, and swimming, which are managed by the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, and the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. The lake's shoreline is lined with several parks and recreation areas, including Lake Oahe State Recreation Area, and West Whitlock Recreation Area, which offer camping, picnicking, and hiking opportunities, and are managed by the United States Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. The lake is also popular for water sports, including water skiing and jet skiing, which are regulated by the United States Coast Guard, and the National Transportation Safety Board. The lake's recreation opportunities are also influenced by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which passes through the area, and the Missouri River Water Trail, which stretches from the Garrison Dam to the St. Louis, Missouri.

Management

The lake is managed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, with the help of the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, and the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. The lake's water level is controlled by the Oahe Dam, which is operated to provide hydroelectric power, flood control, and irrigation for the surrounding areas, and is regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the United States Bureau of Reclamation. The lake's ecosystem is also managed to protect the diverse range of plant and animal species that call the lake home, with the help of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. The lake's management is also influenced by the Native American tribes, including the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, who have a significant interest in the lake's resources and ecosystem, and are represented by the National Congress of American Indians, and the Native American Rights Fund.

Category:Lakes of the United States