{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Lake Sharpe | image = USACE Fort Thompson Big Bend Dam.jpg | caption = Lake Sharpe behind Big Bend Dam | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = South Dakota, <br>United States | coords = {{coord|44|03|06|N|99|27|08|W|region:US-SD_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} | lake_type = reservoir | inflow = Missouri River | outflow = Missouri River | catchment = {{convert|249330|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}<ref name=CofE1>{{cite web | url = http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/Lake_Proj/bigbend/dam.html | title = Lake Sharpe & Powerplant | publisher = United States Army Corps of Engineers | accessdate = 2010-04-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20011013180911/http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/Lake_Proj/bigbend/dam.html | archive-date = 2001-10-13 | url-status = dead }}</ref> | basin_countries = United States | length = {{convert|80|mi|km}}<ref name=CofE1/> | width = | area = {{convert|56884|acre|abbr=on}}<ref name=CofE1/> | depth = | max-depth = {{convert|78|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name=CofE1/> | volume = {{convert|1910000|acre.ft|km3|abbr=on}}<ref name=CofE1/> | residence_time = | shore = {{convert|200|mi|km|abbr=on}}<ref name=CofE1/> | elevation = {{convert|1444|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite GNIS|1261138|Lake Sharpe|Jan 16, 2021}}</ref> | islands = Farm Island and La Framboise Island, near Pierre | cities = Pierre, Ft. Pierre, Ft. Thompson, and Lower Brule, South Dakota <!-- Map --> | pushpin_map = South Dakota#USA | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of Lake Sharpe in South Dakota, USA. | pushpin_map_caption = <!-- Below --> | website = | reference = }}
'''Lake Sharpe''' is a large reservoir impounded by Big Bend Dam on the Missouri River in central South Dakota, United States. The lake has an area of {{convert|56884|acre|km2}} and a maximum depth of {{convert|78|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name=CofE1/> Lake Sharpe is approximately {{convert|80|mi|km|abbr=on}} long, with a shoreline of {{convert|200|mi|km|abbr=on}}.<ref name=CofE1/> Lake Sharpe is the 54th largest reservoir in the United States. The lake starts near Ft. Thompson and stretches upstream to Oahe Dam, near Pierre. The lake is located within the following counties: Buffalo, Lyman, Hyde, Hughes, and Stanley. The Big Bend of the Missouri is about {{convert|7|mi|km}} north of the dam.
Construction of Big Bend Dam began in 1959, and Lake Sharpe was named for Merrill Q. Sharpe, the 17th Governor of South Dakota.<ref name=CofE2>{{cite web | url = http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/Lake_Proj/bigbend/welcome.html | title = Welcome to the Big Bend Project Homepage | publisher = United States Army Corps of Engineers | accessdate = 2010-04-25 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100901060528/http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/Lake_Proj/bigbend/welcome.html | archivedate = 2010-09-01 }}</ref>
[[File:Lake Sharpe, seen from an airplane, South Dakota, 2011.jpg|thumb|left|Aerial photograph of the Big Bend in Lake Sharpe, 2011]] Species of fish in the reservoir include walleye, sauger, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, northern pike, white bass, yellow perch, black crappie, and rainbow trout.<ref name=CofE2/> Walleye are the primary gamefish in the lake, and gizzard shad are the main food source for the walleye.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://gfp.sd.gov/fishing-boating/tacklebox/lake-surveys/docs/2010%20Sharpe-web.pdf | title = 2010 Lake Sharpe Fishery Projections | publisher = South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks | accessdate = 2010-04-25}}</ref> Big game animals include whitetail and mule deer, elk, bison, coyotes and wild turkeys. Waterfowl and upland game birds include ducks, geese, pheasants, prairie chickens, and grouse.
There is over 80,000 acres of public land and water associated around Lake Sharpe. 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.<ref name=WestBendRec>{{cite web | url = http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/west-bend/docs/west-bend.pdf | title = Location Map - West Bend Recreation Area | publisher = South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks | accessdate = 2010-04-25}}</ref><ref name=FarmIslandRec>{{cite web | url = http://gfp.sd.gov/state-parks/directory/farm-island/ | title = Farm Island Recreation Area | publisher = South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks | accessdate = 2010-04-25}}</ref>
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains recreation areas and wildlife areas near Big Bend Dam, including [https://www.recreation.gov/camping/left-tailrace-campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=150041 Left Tailrace Campground].
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. Both tribes lost extensive fertile bottomlands when the government acquired property that would be inundated by the manmade lake. This loss of agricultural lands adversely affected each of the tribes and the ability of their peoples to support themselves on the reservations.
==See also== *U.S. Army Corps of Engineers *Pick-Sloan Plan *Lake Oahe *Lake Francis Case *Lewis and Clark Lake *List of lakes in South Dakota
==External links== *[https://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/Dam-and-Lake-Projects/Missouri-River-Dams/Big-Bend/ U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Big Bend Dam / Lake Sharpe] *[https://www.recreation.gov/camping/gateways/282 Lake Sharpe Recreation - recreation.gov], recreation information, camping reservations *[https://gfp.sd.gov/ South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks] *[https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/255134 Left Tailrace Recreation Area (USACE)] *[https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/west-bend-recreation-area/ West Bend Recreation Area (SD Game, Fish & Parks)] *[https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/farm-island-recreation-area/ Farm Island Recreation Area (SD Game, Fish & Parks)] *[https://gfp.sd.gov/parks/detail/laframboise-island-nature-area/ LaFramboise Island Nature Area (SD Game, Fish & Parks)]
==References== {{reflist|1}}
{{Omaha District dams}}
{{authority control}}
Sharpe Sharpe Category:Protected areas of Buffalo County, South Dakota Category:Protected areas of Hughes County, South Dakota Category:Protected areas of Hyde County, South Dakota Category:Protected areas of Lyman County, South Dakota Category:Protected areas of Stanley County, South Dakota Category:Bodies of water of Buffalo County, South Dakota Category:Bodies of water of Hughes County, South Dakota Category:Bodies of water of Hyde County, South Dakota Category:Bodies of water of Lyman County, South Dakota Category:Bodies of water of Stanley County, South Dakota