Fort Randall Dam was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944 and plays a key role in the Pick–Sloan Plan for development of water resources in the Missouri River basin.

When completed in 1956, Fort Randall Dam and the Lake Francis Case Project cost approximately $200 million.

A significant birding site, the Fort Randall Eagle Roost, is located near the dam.

Its reservoir, Lake Francis Case, has a surface area of 102,000 acres (41,000 ha) at maximum operating pool, coinciding with a volume of 5.7 million acre⋅ft (7.0 billion m3).

[5] The Fort Randall Visitor Center is located on the western edge of Pickstown, South Dakota, along U.S. Highway 281 and 18.