Reservation Dam Boat Ramp

Conditions

• Weather forecast for this launch · National Weather Service
• Water level at the LAKE TRAVERSE AT RESERVATION DAM NEAR WHEATON, MN gauge · USGS, 0.1 mi away on Lake Traverse
• Lake level at Reservation Dam at Lake Traverse Reservoir · USACE

On Lake Traverse

Lake Traverse is a lake of about 11,200 acres on the border between Minnesota and South Dakota, in Traverse County, Minnesota, and Roberts County, South Dakota. It is the southernmost body of water in the Hudson Bay watershed. The Mustinka River flows in at the north end, and the lake drains north through the Bois de Sioux River, a tributary of the Red River of the North. The Lake Traverse Indian Reservation lies along the west shore. The lake sits in the Traverse Gap, which was once the southern outlet of glacial Lake Agassiz. Browns Valley stands in the gap between Lake Traverse and Big Stone Lake. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers runs the Lake Traverse flood-control project. It includes Reservation Dam, which sets the lake's pool level, and the Browns Valley Dike, built in 1941 on the continental divide at the south end. The Corps gives the lake's length as 16.5 miles and its greatest width as 1.75 miles. More about Lake Traverse.

Boating rules on Lake Traverse

• Minnesota-South Dakota border waters fishing regulations apply (2 lines, up to 3 hooks per line) source
• Zebra mussels confirmed (2026); Minnesota law requires cleaning watercraft and trailers, draining all water with plugs out during transport, and drying docks and lifts for 21 days before moving them source

Community

Where people who use Lake Traverse talk about it.

• Lake Traverse Association Association
• Lake Traverse Association (Facebook) Facebook
• Lake Traverse - USACE St. Paul District Agency
• Lake Traverse fishing report? - Big Stone & Lake Traverse forum, In-Depth Outdoors Forum
• Lake Traverse at Reservation Dam near Wheaton, MN - USGS Link
• Search Reddit: r/minnesota Reddit
• Search all of Reddit for Lake Traverse, Minnesota Reddit

Nearby launches

• Mustinka River Public Water Access Site · 1.9 mi · Mustinka River
• Traverse Lake, #1 Public Water Access Site · 3.7 mi · Lake Traverse
• Mud Lake Public Water Access Site · 4.5 mi · Mud Lake
• Traverse Lake, #2, Fish Camp Public Water Access Site · 6.4 mi · Lake Traverse
• Lake Traverse - Waldo WAA · 8.1 mi · Lake Traverse
• White Rock · 8.6 mi