Garrison Dam

dam, North Dakota, United States

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

Garrison Dam is a dam located on the Missouri River in west-central North Dakota. Completed in 1956, it stands 210 feet (64 meters) high. The dam created an enormous reservoir known as Lake Sakakawea. While significant for hydroelectric power and irrigation, the construction of Garrison Dam resulted in the flooding of Native American farmland, with compensation claims remaining unresolved into the 21st century.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

North Dakota
North Dakota since 1900
Construction of the Garrison Dam on the Missouri River, completed in 1954, created an enormous reservoir, Lake Sakakawea. But while important for hydroelectric production and irrigation, the dam flooded Native American farmland. (At the beginning of the 21st century, Native Americans’ claims for compensation were still not resolved.)…
Read More
Construction of the Garrison Dam on the Missouri River, completed in 1954, created an enormous reservoir, Lake Sakakawea. But while important for hydroelectric production and irrigation, the dam flooded Native American farmland. (At the beginning of the 21st century, Native Americans’ claims for compensation were still not resolved.)…
Read More