Mitchell (Davison)

Lake Mitchell in Davison County, South Dakota

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Lake Mitchell is a 702-acre man-made reservoir located just minutes from downtown Mitchell in Davison County, South Dakota, within the city limits of the state's Corn Palace City. The lake stretches across 693 acres of surface water with 10 miles of shoreline and reaches a maximum depth of approximately 27 feet, making it one of the most significant recreational lakes in central and eastern South Dakota. Originally constructed around 1928 by impounding Firesteel Creek, Lake Mitchell served for decades as the primary drinking water supply and reservoir for the City of Mitchell and surrounding area, providing essential water resources to the growing prairie community. In modern times, the city built a Missouri River pipeline to serve as its main water source, transforming Lake Mitchell's role to primarily a recreational destination while maintaining its backup water-supply capacity. The lake is surrounded by 29 lakeside parks and access areas managed by the Mitchell Parks and Recreation Department, along with extensive wooded trails perfect for hiking and biking. Lake Mitchell is fed by Firesteel Creek from the west and sits within a watershed that has been the focus of significant conservation efforts, including the Firesteel/Lake Mitchell Watershed Project designed to reduce nutrient loads and improve water quality through Best Management Practices implemented throughout the drainage area.

Lake Mitchell provides excellent multi-species fishing opportunities and is particularly popular for channel catfish, bluegill, black crappie, walleye, largemouth bass, northern pike, white crappie, yellow bullhead, and saugeye, drawing anglers year-round to its accessible shores and open waters. The lake offers comprehensive recreational facilities including sandy swimming beaches, multiple boat ramps with ample trailer parking, picnic areas and pavilions, volleyball courts, large playgrounds, camping facilities at Lake Mitchell Campground, and wheelchair-accessible fishing piers and docks for shore anglers. Like many prairie lakes, Lake Mitchell has historically been prone to algae outbreaks during hot, dry spells caused by nutrient loading, though recent years of increased rainfall and dedicated watershed management efforts have significantly reduced these occurrences. The city and local advocacy groups including Friends of the Firesteel have worked tirelessly to protect and restore the lake's health, implementing riparian buffer zones along shorelines, sediment-catching ponds and wetlands, and educational outreach programs to reduce phosphorus-laden runoff from both upstream agricultural areas and urban sources surrounding the lake. A major lake restoration project is underway with plans to mechanically dredge phosphorus-laden sediment and install additional wetlands, with completion expected by late 2027 or 2028, ensuring Lake Mitchell remains a clean, healthy, and safe recreational resource for future generations. Located adjacent to Mitchell's famous Corn Palace and numerous community amenities, Lake Mitchell draws both residents and visitors who enjoy its family-friendly atmosphere, peaceful wooded setting, abundant wildlife viewing opportunities, and the simple pleasures of cooling off on a hot South Dakota summer day just a mile and a half from one of the state's most unique attractions.

Dimensions:

Small: 8"x12"

Medium: 12"x18"

Large: 16"x24"

Extra Large: 20"x30"

XX Large: 24"x36"

Gigantic 30"x45"