Lake Sharpe

Lake Sharpe
Lake Sharpe behind Big Bend Dam
Location	South Dakota
Coordinates
Lake type	reservoir
Primary inflows	Missouri River
Primary outflows	Missouri River
Catchment area	249,330 sq mi (645,800 km2)
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	80 miles (130 km)
Surface area	56,884 acres (23,020 ha)
Max. depth	78 ft (24 m)
Water volume	1,910,000 acre·ft (2.36 km3)
Shore length1	200 mi (320 km)
Surface elevation	1,444 ft (440 m)[1]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Sharpe is a large reservoir behind Big Bend Dam on the Missouri River in central South Dakota, USA. The lake has an area of 56,884 acres (230.20 km²) and a maximum depth of 78 ft (24 m). Lake Sharpe is approximately 80 mi (130 km) long, with a shoreline of 200 mi (320 km).

Construction of Big Bend Dam began in 1959, and Lake Sharpe was named for Merrill Q. Sharpe, the 17th Governor of South Dakota.

Species of fish in the reservoir include walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and white bass. Walleye are the primary gamefish in the lake, and gizzard shad are the main food source for the walleye.

The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks maintains several recreation areas and boat launching facilities around the lake. West Bend Recreation Area and Farm Island State Recreation Area are both located on the lake.

Much of the western shore of the lake is within the Lower Brule Indian Reservation, while the Crow Creek Indian Reservation lies along the eastern shore.

See also

• List of lakes in South Dakota