How many hydroelectric power plants are in South Dakota?

4, with 2 GW of nameplate capacity between them, spread over 4 counties. That is the EIA-860M operating count for 2026-07.

Is there a map of South Dakota hydroelectric power plants?

Yes — the map above. Each dot is one hydroelectric power plant, sized by nameplate capacity and placed at the coordinates EIA files for it.

Which is the largest hydroelectric power plant in South Dakota?

Oahe, at 786 MW. The table is sorted largest first, so the rest follow it.

Is there a hydroelectric power plant near me in South Dakota?

The county roll-up below groups every plant by county, which is the quickest way to find the one closest to a given town.

Which grid operator runs South Dakota's hydroelectric power plants?

Most of them sit inside SPP, according to the balancing-authority code EIA files against each plant. Live conditions for that market are on this site.

How current is this, and what is left out?

EIA-860M for 2026-07. Conventional hydroelectric. Pumped storage is counted separately. Plants below 1 MW are not surveyed by EIA and so are absent; retirements and additions after 2026-07 arrive with the next monthly release.

Hydroelectric Power Plants in South Dakota

Every operating hydroelectric power plant in South Dakota on EIA-860M for 2026-07: 4 plants, 25 generating units and 2 GW of nameplate capacity across 4 counties, most of it inside SPP.

As of 2026-07 (inventory dated 2026-07-31) · EIA-860M Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory · eia.gov/…/july_generator2026.xlsx · eia.gov/…/eia860m

Plants: 4; 25 generating units
Nameplate capacity: 2 GW
Counties: 4
Grid operator: SPP; covers most of these plants

Map of hydroelectric power plants in South Dakota

Every one of the 4 plants is drawn at the coordinate EIA files for it.

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Hydro · 4

List of hydroelectric power plants in South Dakota

Sort by any column. Capacity is nameplate, summed across every generating unit EIA lists at the site.

hydroelectric power plants in South Dakota

OaheConventional Hydroelectric	USACE-Omaha	Hughes	786.1	7	1962	Operating
Big Bend DamConventional Hydroelectric	USACE-Omaha	Buffalo	538.3	8	1964	Operating
Fort RandallConventional Hydroelectric	USACE-Omaha	Charles Mix	320	8	1954	Operating
Spearfish HydroConventional Hydroelectric	City of Spearfish - (SD)	Lawrence	4	2	1912	Operating

Largest hydroelectric power plants in South Dakota

1OaheHughes County, South Dakota786.1 MW
2Big Bend DamBuffalo County, South Dakota538.3 MW
3Fort RandallCharles Mix County, South Dakota320 MW
4Spearfish HydroLawrence County, South Dakota4 MW

Hydroelectric power plants by county in South Dakota

The county EIA files against each plant. It is the fastest way to find the plant nearest a given town.

County	Plants	Nameplate MW
Hughes	1	786.1
Buffalo	1	538.3
Charles Mix	1	320
Lawrence	1	4

Hydroelectric Power Plants in South Dakota: FAQ

How many hydroelectric power plants are in South Dakota?: 4, with 2 GW of nameplate capacity between them, spread over 4 counties. That is the EIA-860M operating count for 2026-07.
Is there a map of South Dakota hydroelectric power plants?: Yes — the map above. Each dot is one hydroelectric power plant, sized by nameplate capacity and placed at the coordinates EIA files for it.
Which is the largest hydroelectric power plant in South Dakota?: Oahe, at 786 MW. The table is sorted largest first, so the rest follow it.
Is there a hydroelectric power plant near me in South Dakota?: The county roll-up below groups every plant by county, which is the quickest way to find the one closest to a given town.
Which grid operator runs South Dakota's hydroelectric power plants?: Most of them sit inside SPP, according to the balancing-authority code EIA files against each plant. Live conditions for that market are on this site.
How current is this, and what is left out?: EIA-860M for 2026-07. Conventional hydroelectric. Pumped storage is counted separately. Plants below 1 MW are not surveyed by EIA and so are absent; retirements and additions after 2026-07 arrive with the next monthly release.