We will likely never see another Dust Bowl, at least
not on the same scale as the 1930s. As a society we have
learned much about taking care of the land and how to
get the most production out of each acre. But it seems
we know or care little about the impacts our actions have
on our environment as a whole. Is it possible that we
might unleash another plague as we continue to destroy
some of the greatest diversity ever known on the planet?
Contact Information
Roger Foote, Project Coordinator
Jack Little, Advisory Board President
Jan Mullin, Administrative Assistant
Jim Madsen, Private Lands Biologist, NPLT
800 10th St. NW, Suite #3, Watertown, SD 57201
(voice) 605-882-5250 • (fax) 605-882-5251
[email protected]
Mike Williams
Lecture Series
On Thursday, February 24, 2011, 6:30 p.m., join the
Kampeska Izaak Walton League and the UBSRWP at the
Terry Redlin Environmental Center classrooms (enter
through UBSRW offices) as we start the second year of
educational meetings in memory of Mike Williams.
East central South Dakota experienced record setting
precipitation events during 2010. State Climatologist
Dr. Dennis Todey from SDSU will present comparisons
of the weather observations in South Dakota for 2010
to previous years, and discuss climatic trends expected
for the future and how these may impact agricultural
and the environment. Changes in agricultural cropping
patterns in eastern South Dakota over the last couple
of decades have changed the water use by agricultural
crops. Dr. Jeppe Kjaersgaard from the Water
Resources Institute at SDSU will present new methods
for estimating crop water use and how these methods can
be used in crop water management.
Upper Big Sioux River
Watershed Project
Working Together for the Watershed
Volume 13, Issue 1
Shoreline Protection
The lakes didn’t cooperate much this summer;
water levels remained pretty high during most of the
construction season. When things finally went down
enough to get in the water, contractors were so busy
it was hard to get anyone to return a phone call. Not a
lot of the critical repairs were made this summer and
now we are at the whim of Mother Nature. Hopefully
spring is nice and calm and the melt is slow. There are
some emergency steps a landowner can do to prevent
massive erosion if we get more than average runoff.
First is to move any object that may float away from the
shoreline. Not much can stand up to a floating railroad
tie smashing at your shoreline. Next is to resist the urge
to dump material on your shoreline; any particle smaller
than a bowling ball is going to be washed away. Finally
spread out a piece of erosion blanket, preferably 80 lb.
riprap fabric (contact a local dirtwork contractor for
availability) and weight it down with sandbags, keeping
a 18-24” overlap between pieces. This will let the water
pass through yet keep the soil particles in place. Rocks
Winter 2011
alone are not enough to protect your shoreline; the fabric
keeps the sucking action of the receding waves from
pulling the soil from beneath your protection.
Animal Nutrient
Management Systems
We have funding for a few more systems. These
systems can be as simple as keeping the clean water
out of your feeding area or as complex as a full lagoon.
The most popular system right now is a composting
hoop building where you can see improved gains and
a reduction in manure volume. We can also assist you
in putting together a nutrient management plan. As the
price of fertilizer goes up and up, a plan will help you
Compost Facility
get the most from your manure. Some restrictions do
apply; give Roger a call for an assessment.
Snow & Fertilizer
Shoreline Rip Rap
Where you stick it makes a big difference. You
wouldn’t normally think of these two things at the
same time but some of the same issues apply. If you are
hauling snow out of a parking lot, driveway or feedlot,
Upper Big Sioux River Watershed Project
800 10th St. NW #3
Watertown, SD 57201
605-882-5250
Permit No. 550
Watertown, SD
PAID
PRSRT-STD
U.S. POSTAGE
Importance of Trees
be sure to think about where that runoff is going to go
when spring finally arrives. The same goes for your
fertilizer. Don’t let any sprinkle on your driveway or
street without cleaning it up. All of our drainage systems
flow to the river and lakes and excess nutrients can
cause serious problems downstream. Always allow a
buffer of grass or natural vegetation between where you
put the stuff and a conveyance; this gives the vegetation
a chance to use up the excess before it gets away.
By Craig Brown, SD Forester
Historically windbreaks have been planted to
control wind erosion and to protect crops from damage
caused by wind-blown soil. They improve water use
efficiency, reduce risks associated with drought, and
manage blowing snow. Livestock that are protected by
windbreaks experience less cold temperature stress,
improved health, increase feeding efficiency and
improved reproductive success
Environmental Exhibits
TREC exhibits feature the unique Prairie Coteau
area and the Upper Big Sioux River Watershed (3D topo
maps and interactive learning tools). A Tallgrass Prairie
trivia match game showcases native interdependent
plants and wildlife. A wetland diorama shows the
wildlife and grasses of the area. Learning stations
include aquatic furbearer pelts (river otter thanks to
the local GF&P office), pond life discoveries with
microscopes, live tadpole/frog development, and a snake
exhibit.
In addition, windbreaks provide opportunities to
enhance natural insect controls, provide wildlife habitat.
Windbreaks grown in an agroforestry management
style can provide, and add quality products like fence
posts and lumber and biological diversity to agricultural
systems.
Bowl was underway more than 100 million acres of
native prairie had been destroyed and were then subject
to relentless episodes of wind erosion.
In the pre-Dust Bowl era what science was known
was ignored or scoffed at by those who stood to profit
from breaking the land. The concept of looking at the
land as an ecosystem was considered by a rare few,
and little if anything was known about the impact
of converting huge areas of diversified prairie with
hundreds of plant and animal species into a wheat
monoculture. The grasshoppers that plagued the Dust
Bowl are a prime example. Predators that had kept the
grasshopper numbers in check disappeared with the
grass.
Today native prairie and grasslands continue to be
broken. In addition, drain tile is being trenched into
thousands of acres of wetlands annually - all with the
intent of increasing monocultures of corn and soybeans.
Through subsidy programs and crop insurance our
federal agriculture policies encourage the conversion
and production on marginal lands. The tax laws in
South Dakota are structured to tax land at its so-called
“best use”. The Agribusiness industry is promoting land
conversion on a scale that is unprecedented in South
Dakota.
RAM program
A new program we are offering this year is the RAM
(Riparian Area Management) program, designed to
augment the NRCS’s conservation programs. If a piece
of land has a couple of slivers that are not eligible under
NRCS standards, they may be eligible for cost share
through the UBS. We have some funding to get started;
we can apply for additional funding in the next grant if
there’s interest.
Windbreak photos courtesy of
Codington Conservation District.
Give Sandy (605-882-4989) a call
when you’re ready to protect
your fields and livestock.
Clean Water
Good Grass
Contained Manure
Happy Cows
Good Grass
Protected Riparian Area
Lessons from the Dust Bowl
Jim Madsen, Northern Prairies Land Trust
Terry Redlin Environmental Center Exhibits
Ask How
In the years leading up to the Dust Bowl the U.S.
Government provided incentives for people to move
to the plains. Homesteading was encouraged. There
were global-reaching promises. The land was said to
be indestructible and ideal for growing wheat. Money
for farming was easy to come by - after all wheat was
selling for up to $4 per bushel and the cost of producing
a bushel of wheat was only 40 cents. Millions of acres
of prairie that had been undisturbed for 35,000 years
were suddenly turned upside down. By the time the Dust
A tallgrass prairie wall mural with Jim Madsen
and Dan Miller photos brightens the entrance to the
watershed offices. Adjacent to the front entrance is the
Codington Conservation District/UBS native prairie
educational garden (we’ll share seeds!) Call anytime for
a personal tour!
2
Farm Show Booth,
February 8-12th, 2011
Roger Foote, Project Coordinator
800 10th Street NW #3, Watertown SD 57201
605-882-5250(v), 605-882-5251(f), [email protected]
3