Belle Fourche (Butte)

Belle Fourche Reservoir in Butte County, South Dakota

This lake has 8 Layers or 15 Layers for HD Version

Belle Fourche Reservoir is an 8,000-acre man-made reservoir located approximately eight miles east of Belle Fourche in Butte County, South Dakota, created by the historic Belle Fourche Dam on Owl Creek. Completed in 1911 by the United States Bureau of Reclamation as the agency's very first project, the dam was the largest earthen dam in the world at the time of its construction and now stands as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The reservoir features 58 miles of scenic shoreline and serves as the centerpiece of Rocky Point Recreation Area, managed by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. With an average depth of 25 feet and maximum depths reaching 60 feet at full capacity, the reservoir was originally constructed to provide irrigation water for agriculture in the surrounding Tri-State region. The name "Belle Fourche" means "beautiful forks" in French, referring to the confluence of the Redwater and Belle Fourche Rivers, and the reservoir's historical significance extends beyond irrigation, as the dam site includes interpretive exhibits about its construction and a former Civilian Conservation Corps camp that later served as a World War II prisoner of war facility.

Belle Fourche Reservoir has earned recognition as an outstanding multi-species fishery, attracting anglers year-round for walleye, white bass, channel catfish, tiger muskie, largemouth bass, and white crappie fishing. The reservoir offers extensive recreational opportunities including boating with no horsepower restrictions, water skiing, kayaking, camping with over 60 campsites and cabins available at Rocky Point Recreation Area, and winter activities such as ice fishing and ice skating. The northern portion of the reservoir is home to the Belle Fourche National Wildlife Refuge, providing excellent habitat for migratory waterfowl and bird watching opportunities. Located in the Gateway to the Northern Black Hills, visitors to Belle Fourche Reservoir enjoy convenient access to world-renowned regional attractions including Mount Rushmore National Memorial located about an hour south, Devils Tower National Monument one hour east, the iconic Black Hills Roundup rodeo held annually in Belle Fourche since 1918, the Center of the Nation Monument marking the geographic center of the United States, Deadwood's historic Main Street just 30 minutes away, Spearfish Canyon's stunning limestone cliffs, and the otherworldly landscapes of Badlands National Park to the east.

Dimensions:

Small: 8"x12"

Medium: 12"x18"

Large: 16"x24"

Extra Large: 20"x30"

XX Large: 24"x36"

Gigantic 30"x45"

HD Extra Large: 20"x30" - 15 Layers

HD XX Large: 24"x36" - 15 Layers

HD Gigantic 30"x45" - 15 Layers

The difference between standard and HD maps is the number of layers. Standard maps have 1 land layer and 7 water layers. " The HD lake maps have 1 land layer and 14 water layers. So twice the detail. The HD Maps are limited to Extra Large, " XX Large, and Gigantic sizes only. On the smaller sizes the depth change of the wood is too extreme and you end up losing detail."