Fort Randall Dam
Fort Randall Dam is an earth dam located in Charles Mix County, South Dakota, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Fort Randall Dam
The primary purpose of Fort Randall Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - Omaha District (federal). It impounds the Missouri River near Greenwood.
The dam stands 170 feet tall and stretches 10,700 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 118,400 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,300,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 14,150 square miles. Completed in 1954, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/16/2022.
At 170 feet, this dam is taller than 99% of all dams in the United States.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The South Dakota dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Charles Mix |
| Nearest City | Greenwood |
| River/Stream | Missouri River |
| Coordinates | 43.06110, -98.56017 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 170 ft |
| Dam Length | 10,700 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,300,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,300,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,800,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 118,400 acres |
| Drainage Area | 14,150 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 629,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - Omaha District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 07/16/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | SD01093 |
| Federal ID | SD01093 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |