OMAHA, Neb. – The draft master plan update for Fort Randall Dam/Lake Francis Case is currently available for public review. The master plan provides guidance for the management and development of natural and manmade resources at the Fort Randall Dam/Lake Francis Case project including public use, environmentally sensitive areas and cultural resources within the project’s boundaries.
This updated draft master plan would replace the current version which was developed in 1977," said Jonas Grundman, project manager. "Significant changes have occurred at the Fort Randall Project since the original master plan was developed including land ownership and management responsibilities, project use conditions, pertinent laws and policies, and visitor use and public demand.”
“Extensive coordination with various state and federal agencies, Tribes, and state historical societies occurred in preparation of this draft master plan. The public was also given the opportunity to provide input into the development of this draft document during scoping meetings held in March 2009,” according to Grundman.
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the draft master plan update. There will be a series of evening public meetings from 6 to 8:00 p.m. at the following locations:
- Aug. 4 - Oacoma Community Center, 100 E. Third St., Oacoma, SD
- Aug. 5 - Platte Area Community Center, 310 S. Main St., Platte, SD
- Aug. 6 - City of Bonesteel Community Room, 303 Mellette St., Bonesteel, SD
- Aug. 7 - Natural Resources Office, 113 Randall Creek Rd., Pickstown, SD
The draft Fort Randall Dam/Lake Francis Case master plan is available for viewing at http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/Missions/DamandLakeProjects/ProjectMasterPlans.aspx and hardcopies will be available at libraries in Chamberlain, Platte, Bonesteel, Gregory, Lake Andes, Wagner, Mitchell, Yankton, and Sioux Falls, SD.
Written comments should be sent to
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District; CENWO-OD-TN
ATTN: Draft Fort Randall Dam/Lake Francis Case Master Plan
1616 Capitol Avenue
Omaha, NE 68102-4901
Comments can also be emailed to: jonas.grundman@usace.army.mil. Comments must be postmarked or received no later than Aug. 22, 2014.
BACKGROUND: The Fort Randall Dam/Lake Francis Case Project was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944 as part of the Pick-Sloan Plan, for the purposes of flood control, navigation, hydropower, fish and wildlife, recreation, irrigation, municipal and industrial water supply and water quality. Fort Randall is the fifth dam in a series of six Missouri River main stem dams, extending from Fort Peck Dam in northeastern Mont. to Gavins Point near Yankton, SD. Fort Randall project lands include parts of Charles Mix, Brule, Buffalo, Lyman and Gregory Counties in SD.
Lake Francis Case extends roughly 107 miles up the Missouri River valley from Pickstown to just downstream of Big Bend Dam in south-central SD and has over 540 miles of shoreline covering approximately 102,000 acres. Lake Francis Case provides many recreational opportunities to area residents as well as out-of-state travelers. Activities include picnicking, camping, hunting, trapping, nature walking, wildlife photography, touring the dam and related facilities and visiting historic and interpretive sites.