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Fordham Dam

Raymond, South Dakota — Clark County.

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83Surface acres
1Public access sites

Surface area: The USGS National Hydrography Dataset outline (NHD Permanent ID 145669563).

Nearest airports

The closest airport with scheduled passenger flights to Fordham Dam, plus larger airports within about 150 miles:

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Airports with scheduled airline service from OurAirports (large and medium airports); larger airports are FAA large, medium and small hubs by FAA CY2025 enplanements ("major airport" = FAA large hub). Distances are straight-line from the lake's center, not driving distance; road routes are longer.

Location & fast facts

Where Fordham Dam is in South Dakota

The red circle marks Fordham Dam.

Fast facts

About Fordham Dam

  • County: Clark
  • Nearest city: Raymond (about 6.4 mi from the lake)
  • Mapped as: Lake or pond (USGS National Hydrography Dataset)
  • Distance: about 55 mi from Aberdeen and 103 mi from Sioux Falls, straight-line (not driving distance)

Towns and counties: U.S. Census Bureau boundaries overlaid on the USGS lake outline (South Dakota: incorporated places touching the lake, otherwise the nearest one).

Fishing in South Dakota

Official SD GFP pages. Rules and fees change; check before you go.

Good for & watch for

Good for

  • Boating. 1 public trailer launch listed (see access)

Watch for

  • Boat traffic. A public trailer launch means motorboats share the water; expect more traffic on summer weekends.

Built only from the data on this page: official access lists, OpenStreetMap beaches and trails, campground listings, state and USGS invasive-species records. We don't rate crowds or water quality.

Lake map

Fordham Dam shoreline, boat launches & beaches

Fordham Publice Water Access (Boat launch)1¼ mileN

Numbers on the map match the list at rightbelow.

Boat launch
  1. 1Fordham Publice Water Access
    Boat launch

Shoreline: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (NHD Waterbody, Permanent ID 145669563), public domain. State outline: U.S. Census Bureau TIGERweb. Points: OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL). Interactive map: Leaflet with © OpenStreetMap contributors. Not for navigation.

Conditions right now

Air temperature & conditions (nearest NWS station)Loading…
Fetching the latest National Weather Service observation…

Live from the National Weather Service API for the lake's coordinates (44.7702, -97.9304). The nearest station may be several miles away. NWS forecast for Fordham Dam. No live water-temperature sensor is shown because we haven't found a public one for this lake.

Sun, moon & best fishing times

Sun & moon at Fordham Dam

Best fishing times

Major periodMinor periodDaylight

    Based on solunar theory, an estimate. Major periods (about 2 hours) center on when the moon is directly overhead or underfoot; minor periods (about 1 hour) center on moonrise and moonset. The 0–100 activity score rises during those periods and gets a boost near sunrise and sunset and around the new and full moon. Weather, water temperature and pressure often matter more. Sun and moon times are calculated in your browser from the lake's coordinates with standard astronomy formulas, shown in CT (America/Chicago), and accurate to within a few minutes.

    Boat launches & access sites

    1 public access site listed, 1 with a boat ramp or trailer launch.

    SiteTownOwnerTypeParkingFeeUsesMap
    Fordham Publice Water Access——Boat ramp (OpenStreetMap) · Yes ramp——Boating44.7732, -97.9308

    OpenStreetMap boat ramps (no statewide agency ramp layer used) and OpenStreetMap boat ramps (ODbL)

    Fees, hours and rules change; confirm with the site owner before you go.

    Contact & official info

    Questions about Fordham Dam

    How big is Fordham Dam?

    Fordham Dam covers about 83 acres in Raymond, South Dakota (Clark County).

    Is there a public boat launch on Fordham Dam?

    Yes. 1 public trailer launch is listed: Fordham Publice Water Access. Check posted fees and parking rules.

    What towns are on Fordham Dam?

    Fordham Dam touches Raymond in Clark County, South Dakota.

    Share a tip or fishing report

    Know Fordham Dam? Tell us about the launch, parking, where they're biting or anything a first-time visitor should know. Tips go privately to the LakeRipple editor; nothing is posted automatically. Helpful tips may be featured on this page (we'll use your first name only if you give one).

    Lakes & ponds nearby

    Straight-line distance between lake centers. All South Dakota lakes & ponds · All waters in Raymond