BSR Assessments

The Central Big Sioux River Watershed Assessment Project began in April of 1999 and lasted through December of 2003 when data analysis and compilation
into a final report was completed. The assessment was conducted as a result of several segments of the
Big Sioux River being identified as impaired in the 1998 South Dakota 303(d) Impaired Water Body List.
Excessive fecal coliform bacteria and total suspended solids were cited as the primary problems in this
area. An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Section 319 grant provided a majority of the funding for
this project. The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (SD DENR) and the
East Dakota Water Development District (EDWDD) provided matching funds for the project. The
assessment focused on the central portion of the Big Sioux River (BSR) and its major tributaries between
the communities of Volga and Brandon. Water quality monitoring and watershed modeling of the
1.2 million acre area spanning Brookings, Lake, Moody and Minnehaha Counties resulted in the
identification of several sources of impairment not only in the BSR but also in many of the major
tributaries joining the river. Recommendations for improving water quality in these areas included
implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs) and construction of several waste management systems
at animal feeding operations. The SD DENR and EDWDD have also been in contact with the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency to address impaired streams draining Minnesota land. The long term goal of this
assessment was to locate and document sources of non-point source pollution in the watershed and
provide feasible restoration alternatives to improve water quality within the watershed. A final
assessment report with attached Total Maximum Daily Load Reports (TMDLs) for each waterbody and
impairment can be viewed here. The 30-day public notice period of this assessment and its TMDLs ended
September 2007. EPA approved TMDL list for this project can be viewed here.

The North-Central Big Sioux River Watershed Assessment Project began in April of 2001 and continued through December of 2005 when data analysis and
compilation into a final report was completed. The assessment was conducted as a result of several segments of the Big Sioux River being identified as
impaired in the 1998 South Dakota 303(d) Impaired Water Body List. Total suspended solids were cited as the primary problem in this area. An EPA Section 319
grant provided a majority of the funding for this project. The SD DENR and the EDWDD
provided matching funds for the project. The assessment focused on the north-central portion
of the Big Sioux River (BSR) and its major tributaries between the communities of Watertown
and Volga. Water quality monitoring and watershed modeling of the 500,000 acre area spanning
Brookings, Hamlin, Deuel and Codington Counties resulted in the identification of several
sources of impairment not only in the BSR but also in the major tributaries joining the river.
Recommendations for improving water quality in these areas included implementing BMPs and
construction of waste management systems at animal feeding operations. The long term goal
of this assessment was to locate and document sources of non-point source pollution in the
watershed and provide feasible restoration alternatives to improve water quality within the
watershed. A final assessment report with attached TMDLs for each waterbody and impairment
can be viewed here. The 30-day public notice period of this assessment and its TMDLs ended
September 2007. EPA approved TMDL list for this project can be viewed here.

The Oakwood Lakes Watershed Assessment Project began in April of 2001 in conjunction with the North-Central Big Sioux River Watershed Assessment
Project. This assessment continued through December of 2005 when data analysis and compilation into a final report was completed. The Oakwood Lakes
watershed assessment was conducted as a result of East Oakwood Lake being placed on the 1998 South Dakota 303(d) Impaired Waterbody List due to excess
nutrients, siltation, and noxious aquatic plants. Additionally, West Oakwood Lake was listed on the 2002 South Dakota 303(d) Impaired Waterbody List for not
supporting its beneficial uses due to Trophic State Index (TSI) impairment. Both East Oakwood Lake and West Oakwood Lake have been identified as impaired
on subsequent impaired waterbody lists to include the most recent 2006 South Dakota Integrated Report for Surface Water Quality Assessment. An EPA
Section 319 grant provided a majority of the funding for this project. The SD DENR and the
EDWDD provided matching funds for the project. Water quality monitoring and watershed
modeling of the 55,000 acre watershed located in Brookings County resulted in the identification
of nutrient impairment as related to TSI trend in both East Oakwood Lake and West Oakwood Lake.
There were also a number of pH exceedences identified in East Oakwood Lake. The sources of
these impairments may be addressed through BMPs such as shoreline buffers, riparian management,
and in-lake management of rough fish biomass. The long term goal of this assessment was to locate
and document sources of non-point source pollution in the watershed and provide feasible
restoration alternatives to improve water quality. A final assessment report with attached TMDLs for
each waterbody and impairment can be viewed here. The 30-day public notice period of this
assessment and its TMDLs ended September 2007. Official publication of these documents will occur
after response to comments from the public notice period are completed and accepted by the EPA.

The School Lake Watershed Assessment Project began in March of 2003 and lasted through
August of 2005, when data analysis and compilation into a final report was completed. The
assessment was conducted as a result of School Lake being placed on the
1998 South Dakota Report 303(b) Impaired Waterbody List due to excess nutrients, siltation, and
noxious aquatic plants. The lake has been identified as impaired on subsequent impaired waterbody
lists to include the most recent 2006 South Dakota Integrated Report for Surface Water Quality
Assessment for not supporting its beneficial uses due to TSI impairment. An EPA Section 106 grant
provided a majority of the funding for this project and the SD DENR and the EDWDD provided
matching funds. Water quality monitoring and watershed modeling of the 22,000 acre watershed
located in northwest Deuel County resulted in the identification of nutrient impairments in School Lake
and Bullhead Lake. There were also a number of pH exceedences identified in School Lake, Bullhead Lake,
and Round Lake. The sources of these impairments may be addressed through BMPs such as shoreline buffers
and riparian management, as well as in-lake management of nuisance algae and rough fish removal. The long
term goal for this project was to locate and document the sources of non-point source pollution in the School
Lake Watershed and provide feasible restoration alternatives for the improvement of water quality. A final
assessment report with attached TMDLs for each waterbody and impairment can be viewed here.
The 30-day public notice period of this assessment and its TMDLs ended November 2006. The State is
currently in the process of officially publishing these documents. A copy of the presentation made to
the South Dakota Non-point Source Task Force in March 2007 is located here.

The Lake Campbell Watershed Post-Assessment Project began in April of 2007 and is expected to
conclude with a final report and TMDL by December of 2008. This assessment is being conducted to
comparatively analyze previous watershed conditions and present conditions as a result of the Lake
Campbell Dredging Project that occurred between 1987 and 1989. This assessment will be used to determine
current ecological status, the influence of previously implemented BMPs and to determine the effectiveness
of restoration activities that have taken place. Recent ambient water quality testing indicates the lake is not
supporting its beneficial uses due to Trophic State Index (TSI) impairment from excessive nutrients. Lake
Campbell was initially identified in the 1996 South Dakota Report to Congress 305(b) Water Quality Assessment
as hypereutrophic due to excessive nutrients, siltation, and noxious aquatic plants. Since that time, it has been
listed as impaired in subsequent reports as well as listed on the South Dakota 303(d) Waterbody Lists. Lake
Campbell was most recently identified in the 2006 Integrated Waterbody List for TMDL development due to TSI
trend and not supporting of its Warmwater Marginal Fish Life Propagation beneficial use. Water quality
monitoring and watershed modeling of the 112,000 acre watershed spanning across Brookings, Lake, and Moody
Counties is currently underway. According to the 1993 Diagnostic/feasibility Study Report, the Lake
Campbell/Battle Creek Watershed drains nearly 100 percent of the watershed which enters the lake by way of
Battle Creek from the south. The majority of the nutrient and sediment load to the lake is believed to be
entering from this location which drains 91 percent agricultural land. Other areas that may be contributing to
the in-lake problems include the lake itself as well as shoreline properties.