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Visit www.eastdakota.org/bsrwatershed for more information on the Big Sioux River Watershed Information Nitrate Testing: In the winter of 2004-2005, EDWDD conducted a pilot project to test nitrate levels in water from private wells across the area. The District puchased a Hach DR/4000 spectrophotometer, which has teh capability to analyze water samples for nitrate with minimal sample pre-treatment. Contact Jay Gilbertson for more information. Volunteer Water Resource Monitoring: Dakota Water Watch is a volunteer citizen's monitoring program that 1) Builds Community Awareness & Stewardship 2) Encourages Citizens to Take Action 3) Tracks Water Quality Trends 4) Supports Citizen Monitoring Efforts 5) Makes Connections In 2007, Dakota Water Watch began as a one year Bacteria Monitoring Pilot Project. After a successful first year, a second two-year grant was procurred and the program was expanded to include more types of monitoring. EDWDD has recently submitted a request for another grant to extend the program through the year 2012. Goto the Dakota Water Watch website or contact the project coordinator for more information. Education Water education is a priority to East Dakota Water Development District (EDWDD). EDWDD has a library of water related activity documents dating back several years. The public is invited to stop at the office during normal business hours to use the library for research. EDWDD is involved with adult as well as youth water education. Children's Water Festivals: In 1993, the District started a one-day water education event targeted at fourth grade students, known as the Big Sioux Water Festival. Currently, fourth graders within the District are invited to one of two festival held either in Sioux Falls or in Brookings, and most every class attends each year. The Big Sioux Water Festival steering committee has developed a series of year-round educational programs for participating teachers and schools. The District has also provided support for the Pierre, James River, Aberdeen, and Sioux Falls Water Festivals. Time For Clean Water - South Dakota Pollution Prevention Guide Big News on the Big Sioux - Brochure - Contact EDWDD for printed copies Big News on the Big Sioux - Video; WMV or MOV format Big Sioux River - Public Opinion Survey Protection Big Sioux Aquifer Groundwater Protection Project: EDWDD was the recipient of EPA 319 funds in 1990 to initiate local groundwater protection measures for shallow, unconfined public water supply wells.Contact Jay Gilbertson for more information. Class V Management within a Wellhead/Shallow Aquifer Protection Area: In 1990, EDWDD was awarded an EPA grant to formulate an effective program to regulate and thus reduce groundwater contamination from Class V injection wells through integration of various local, state, and federal programs. This was done primarily through shallow Class V injection well control, local wellhead/shallow ground water protection, and the public water supply vulnerability assessment program. Contact Jay Gilbertson for more information. Big Sioux River Surface Water Quality Assessment Studies: The District has provided technical and financial support to a number of watershed assessment studies designed to identify the source(s) of the pollutants that are degrading water quality. Contact Deb Springman for more information. Big Sioux River Surface Water Implementation Project: The Central Big Sioux Watershed Project is a 10-year TMDL implementation strategy that will be completed in multiple segments. The project will restore and/or maintain the water quality of the Big Sioux River and it's tributaries to meet the designated beneficial uses. The Central and North-Central Big Sioux River Watershed Assessments identified various segments of the Big Sioux River and certain tributaries between Watertown and Brandon as failing to meet designated uses due to impairments from total suspended solids and/or fecal coliform bacteria. Activities to improve and/or maintain current sediment and bacterial loadings will target sub-watershed within the project area. Water quality sampling will be used to monitor and assess project impacts on impaired waters bodies so as to meet the TMDLs. Contact Roger Strom for more information. Big Sioux River Bank Stability Project: A team of scientist from the National Sedimentation Laboratory in Oxford, MS collected geotechnical data from 5 sites along the Big Sioux River. This data will be used to determine the best approach to stabilize the banks of the Big Sioux River. Contact Jay Gilbertson for more information. |
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