Ron Honner
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
"After several years of low reservoir levels on the Upper Missouri River basin, Gavins Point Dam has had high releases through its gates recently that are reminiscent of the big releases seen during the late 1990s. As of a week ago Tuesday, the dam is discharging water at a rate of 27,000 cubic feet per second, which is generating a lot of turbulence in the tailwater, as well as a thundering roaring at the gates...water is needed for the downstream navigation season." The preceding was a quote from the local newspaper.
Here are my photos...these are taken four miles west of Yankton on the Missouri River. Above the dam...the reservoir...is called Lewis & Clark Lake...below the dam is the Missouri River...although both are the Missouri River.
In this photo, I am on the earth portion of the dam...we drive across it from South Dakota to Nebraska. I am facing east. The portion of water below is Lake Yankton. Behind me would be Lewis & Clark Lake. This gives you an idea of how high the earth portion of the dam is.
Now I am below the dam on the South Dakota side facing southwest. The waters are rolling through 12 of the 14 gates.
I zoomed my Canon S-3 to give you a closer shot of the roaring waters coming through the gates.
Then I drove our TrailBlazer back up the earthen portion of the dam and drove south across the top of the spill gates. I drove across what looks like a bridge on top of the spill gates. There is two lane traffic up there.
I took this next photo from the Nebraska side. I am facing northwest.
Then I went about 1/4 miles to the south and to the west on the Nebraska side to shoot photos of the back of the dam. This is from the reservoir side. Many folks around here never see the back side of the dam or the power plant where the turbines are.
The water in the foreground before the dam is Lewis & Clark Lake. It gets up to 40' deep. We use it for sailing and water skiing.
You can see that on the far side of the dam, the Missouri River is much lower. Lake Yankton is above the trees; it is much lower also.
The electricity generated here is not used locally. It is sent 165 miles southeast to Omaha, NE and beyond.
Then I went east below the dam. I went to a hill where there is a lookout location. I am facing northwest again but at a much higher elevation.
You can see how high the Lewis & Clark Lake reservoir is above the dam and how low the Missour River is below the dam.
We have some of the most beautiful camping facilities here...hundred of spots...on blacktop...with electricity.
We also have a beautiful marina. Sail boats from Minneapolis, Sioux City, Omaha and St. Louis use the marina and Lewis & Clark Lake all summer. The lake is known for its depth and its wind for the sails.
We are a jewel in southeast South Dakota.
Here are my photos...these are taken four miles west of Yankton on the Missouri River. Above the dam...the reservoir...is called Lewis & Clark Lake...below the dam is the Missouri River...although both are the Missouri River.
In this photo, I am on the earth portion of the dam...we drive across it from South Dakota to Nebraska. I am facing east. The portion of water below is Lake Yankton. Behind me would be Lewis & Clark Lake. This gives you an idea of how high the earth portion of the dam is.
Now I am below the dam on the South Dakota side facing southwest. The waters are rolling through 12 of the 14 gates.
I zoomed my Canon S-3 to give you a closer shot of the roaring waters coming through the gates.
Then I drove our TrailBlazer back up the earthen portion of the dam and drove south across the top of the spill gates. I drove across what looks like a bridge on top of the spill gates. There is two lane traffic up there.
I took this next photo from the Nebraska side. I am facing northwest.
Then I went about 1/4 miles to the south and to the west on the Nebraska side to shoot photos of the back of the dam. This is from the reservoir side. Many folks around here never see the back side of the dam or the power plant where the turbines are.
The water in the foreground before the dam is Lewis & Clark Lake. It gets up to 40' deep. We use it for sailing and water skiing.
You can see that on the far side of the dam, the Missouri River is much lower. Lake Yankton is above the trees; it is much lower also.
The electricity generated here is not used locally. It is sent 165 miles southeast to Omaha, NE and beyond.
Then I went east below the dam. I went to a hill where there is a lookout location. I am facing northwest again but at a much higher elevation.
You can see how high the Lewis & Clark Lake reservoir is above the dam and how low the Missour River is below the dam.
We have some of the most beautiful camping facilities here...hundred of spots...on blacktop...with electricity.
We also have a beautiful marina. Sail boats from Minneapolis, Sioux City, Omaha and St. Louis use the marina and Lewis & Clark Lake all summer. The lake is known for its depth and its wind for the sails.
We are a jewel in southeast South Dakota.
