Gavins Point Dam

The dam and hydroelectric power plant were constructed as the Gavins Point Project from 1952 to 1957 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Pick-Sloan Plan.

The dam is located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) west or upstream of Yankton, South Dakota.

Gavins Point Dam was constructed as a part of the Pick–Sloan Missouri Basin Program, authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944 by Congress.

During the 2011 flood, the debris damaged the dam and a significant portion of rocks were dislodged from its upstream side.

See main article: Lewis and Clark Lake Gavins Point Dam creates Lewis and Clark Lake, a popular regional tourist destination for water-based recreational opportunities including boating and fishing, along with camping, hiking, and hunting opportunities managed by the State of South Dakota, State of Nebraska, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Tom Brokaw greeting the 20,000th visitor to the dam in 1958. Brokaw was once a tour guide at the dam.
The dam releasing a record 150,000 cubic feet per second (4,200 m 3 /s) of water on June 14, 2011 as a result of the 2011 Missouri River Floods . The release was more than twice the previous record set in 1997. [ 3 ]
Aerial photo of Gavins Point Dam and Lewis and Clark Lake , looking north.