Angostura Dam (U.S.) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Angostura Dam |
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Angostura Dam with spillways open
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 Location of Angostura Dam in South Dakota
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| Country | United States |
| Location | Fall River County, South Dakota |
| Coordinates | 43°20′34″N 103°26′11″W / 43.34278°N 103.43639°W |
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | 1946 |
| Opening date | 1949 |
| Owner(s) | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Type of dam | Embankment, earth-fill |
| Impounds | Cheyenne River |
| Height | 193 feet (59 m) |
| Length | 2,030 feet (620 m) |
| Elevation at crest | 3,199 feet (975 m) |
| Dam volume | 850,000 cubic yards (650,000 m3) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Angostura Reservoir |
| Total capacity | 195,121-acre-foot (0.240678 km3) |
Angostura Dam is a large dam in southwestern South Dakota, in the United States. It was built across the Cheyenne River in Fall River County. This dam is about 75 miles (121 km) south of Rapid City. It helps store water for many important uses. It also creates a popular lake for fun activities.
About Angostura Dam
Angostura Dam is a type of dam called an embankment dam. It is made mostly of earth and rock. The dam stands about 193 feet (59 meters) tall. It stretches for 2,030 feet (619 meters) across the Cheyenne River. This huge structure holds back the Angostura Reservoir.
Why Was It Built?
The idea for Angostura Dam came up a long time ago, around 1913. But it wasn't built until the 1930s. At that time, there was a big drought in the area. This drought caused many crops to fail. Farmers really needed a way to get water for their fields. Because of this, the project got a lot of support.
Construction on the dam started in 1946. It was finished in 1949. The dam is part of a bigger plan called the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation operates the dam.
How Angostura Dam Works
The main job of Angostura Dam is to store water. This water is used to irrigate (water) about 12,218 acres (4,944 hectares) of farmland. These farms are located along the Cheyenne River below the dam. Water flows to these farms through a special path called the Angostura Canal.
The dam and its reservoir also help control water from a very large area. This area covers about 9,034 square miles (23,398 km²). The reservoir can hold a lot of water. It has space for 138,761 acre-feet (0.171 km³) of water for everyday use. It can also hold an extra 56,740 acre-feet (0.070 km³) of water. This extra space is for controlling floods.
When there is too much water, like during a flood, the dam has a special part called a spillway. The spillway has five gates that can open. These gates can release a lot of water safely. They can let out up to 247,000 cubic feet (7,000 m³) of water per second.
Fun at Angostura Reservoir
Angostura Reservoir is one of the biggest lakes in western South Dakota. It has about 36 miles (58 km) of shoreline. The lake covers 4,706 acres (1,905 hectares) of water. It's a great place for fishing! The lake is stocked with many kinds of fish. You can find walleye, smallmouth bass, and crappie here.
The area around the lake is called the Angostura Recreation Area. The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks manages this area. It's a popular spot for people to enjoy the outdoors.
