Lake Traverse is located on the Minnesota - South Dakota border. The project consists of two dams, one dike and two lakes, Traverse and Mud. The significant feature of the project is the Browns Valley Dike on the south end of Lake Traverse, keeping it separate from
Big Stone Lake. The dike sits on the continental divide, which marks the outlet of Glacial Lake Agassiz. Waters on the north side of the dike flow into Hudson's Bay, and on the south, waters flow into the Minnesota River and on to the Mississippi River.
Lake Traverse has a surface area of 11,600 acres. The maximum depth is 15 feet with an average depth of 10.2 feet. It is 16.5 miles long with an average width of 1.75.
The Dakota name for Traverse Lake was Mdehdakinyan "Lake Lying Crosswise".