Lake Henry (Bon Homme County, South Dakota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Henry |
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 Lake Henry
Location in South Dakota
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| Location | Bon Homme County, South Dakota, United States |
| Coordinates | 43°08′35″N 97°42′05″W / 43.1431319°N 97.7014388°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Dawson Creek |
| Primary outflows | Dawson Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 113 acres (46 ha) |
| Average depth | 6.6 ft (2.0 m) |
| Shore length1 | 7 mi (11 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,290 ft (390 m) msl |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Henry is a small artificial lake in Bon Homme County, South Dakota. It was created by building a dam across Dawson Creek (South Dakota). The lake is about 0.75 mi (1.21 km) east of the town of Scotland.
Lake Henry is part of the larger James River watershed. It was named after Henry Brown, who was a State Senator from Bon Homme County. Today, Lake Henry is a popular spot for fishing and other fun outdoor activities.
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The Story of Lake Henry
Lake Henry has an interesting history. It was first created in 1937 when a dam was built.
Why the Lake Needed Fixing
Over many years, the lake started to have problems. Dirt and mud built up at the bottom, and the edges of the lake wore away. This is called erosion. By the late 1980s, the lake was not as nice as it used to be, and fewer people visited.
The Renovation Project
In 1991, people started making plans to fix the lake. They found that the spillway was badly damaged. A spillway is like a drain that lets extra water out of the dam safely.
In 1994, the dam was opened up, and the lake was completely drained. This allowed workers to repair the spillway and remove all the built-up mud and dirt from the bottom.
A Long Wait for Water
Unfortunately, the renovation project stopped because there was no more money. The lake stayed dry for almost ten years!
In 2002, money for the project was found again. Experts decided it would be cheaper and smarter to build a brand new dam instead of trying to fix the old one. A new spot was chosen a little bit downstream from the old dam.
Construction on the new dam began in late 2002. It was finished in 2003, and the lake slowly filled with water. By 2005, Lake Henry was completely full and ready for people to enjoy again!
Fun at Lake Henry
Lake Henry is a great place for outdoor fun in the area. Many people come here to fish and enjoy nature.
Fishing at Lake Henry
The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks regularly adds fish to the lake. This is called stocking. You can find many kinds of fish in Lake Henry, including:
- Largemouth bass
- Yellow perch
- Channel catfish
- Black crappie
- Bluegill
- Black bullhead
- Green sunfish
- Hybrid sunfish
- White sucker
- Carp
Lake Facilities
There is a boat ramp with a dock on the southeast side of the lake. You can also find public restrooms there. For people who use wheelchairs, there are two special fishing piers that are easy to access.
The entire lake is a "no wake zone." This means that boats must go very slowly. This helps keep everyone safe and protects the shoreline from damage caused by big waves.
