Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2005SD52B

Information Transfer

Institute: South Dakota
Year Established: 2005 Start Date: 2005-03-01 End Date: 2008-02-29
Total Federal Funds: $29,012 Total Non-Federal Funds: $65,174

Principal Investigators: Van Kelley, David German, Jennifer Pickard

Project Summary: Information Transfer Program Public Outreach Public outreach takes many forms. One of the most recent at SD WRI is providing information over the Internet. A Web site for the SD WRI and Water Quality Lab (http://wri.sdstate.edu) has been established. The Research Projects section of the SD WRI Web site (http://wri.sdstate.edu) is continuing to be updated. The site allows the public to keep in touch with the activities of the Institute, gather information on specific water quality problems, learn about recent research results and links with other water resource related information available on the Web. An extensive library of information will eventually be developed on-line. Information regarding analytical services available at the SDSU Analytical Services Water Quality Laboratory and information that may be used to address water quality problems has been redeveloped on-line. The Water Quality Laboratory provides important testing services to water users across the state. Water Resources Institute staff continues to provide interpretation of analysis. Information transfer to individuals with assistance to identify and solve water quality problems is an important component of the Institutes Information Transfer activities. Interpretation of analysis and recommendations for suitability of use is available for water samples submitted for livestock suitability, irrigation, lawn and garden, household, farmstead, heat pump, rural runoff, and land application of waste. The severe drought in western South Dakota the past four years has demonstrated the importance of the services offered by the Water Resources Institutes Water Quality Laboratory. The inherent quality of surface waters in western South Dakota is commonly low, leading to chronic livestock production problems. However, drought has intensified this problem for livestock producers in these semi-arid rangelands. Many dugouts and ponds degraded to the point of causing cases of livestock illness and, in some instances, livestock deaths. The SD WRI made this issue a priority in its outreach/information transfer efforts by posting information for farmers and ranchers on this subject on the Institute=s web page (http://wri.sdstate.edu/drought.htm). WRI staff member David German received numerous requests for assistance in identification of potentially toxic algae from surface waters due to dry conditions. Results from the research project Water Quality and Beef Production will soon be available to ranchers. Findings will be summarized and placed on the WRI web site. SD WRI staff routinely respond to questions unrelated to laboratory analysis from the general public, other state agencies, livestock producers and County Extension Agents concerning water quality issues related to stream monitoring, surface water/ground water interactions, livestock poisoning by algae, lake protection and management, fish kills, soil-water compatibility, and irrigation drainage. WRI continues to provide soil and water compatibility recommendations for irrigation permits to the SD Division of Water Rights. Agency Interaction The SD WRI Information Transfer program includes interaction with local, state and federal agencies/entities in the discussion of water-related problems in South Dakota, and the development of the processes necessary to solve these problems. One example of this interaction to solve water quality problems is a program started by the Cooperative Extension Service to help livestock producers identify unsuitable water sources. The CES provides many of its Extension Educators with hand-held conductivity meters for use in the field. If samples are shown to be marginal by field testing, they are sent to the Water Quality Lab for further analysis. Often, high sulfates limit the use of waters that have elevated conductivity. A Non-Point Source (NPS) Task Force exists in South Dakota to coordinate and fund research and information projects in this high priority area. Many of the information transfer efforts of the Institute are cooperative efforts with the other state-wide and regional entities that serve on the Task Force. TMDL studies and other watershed assessments funded by the Task Force provide an opportunity for information transfer activities in cooperation with the local sponsors of these projects. Several local and state agencies conduct cooperative research with SD WRI or contribute funding for research. Feedback to these agencies is often given in the form of presentations at state meetings, local zoning boards, and informational meetings for non point source and research projects. Youth Education Water Festivals were included in the NPS Task Force's Information and Education plan in 1992 with one Water Festival held in Spearfish, South Dakota. Water Festivals have since been held in seven sites including Spearfish, Rapid City, Pierre, Huron, Vermillion, Brookings and Sioux Falls. SD WRI staff members will continue to support and participate in Water Festivals throughout the state in FY2005. SD WRI will continue other activities to support water quality education in local schools including classroom presentations and assisting local educators with field trips. The institute will participate in the Lakes are Cool field trips over the next several years as part of the Enemy Swim Lake and Blue Dog Lake 319 project in Day County and will continue presentations on aquatic ecology at the Annual Sportfishing Day in Aberdeen, SD. Publications Distribution of research findings to the public, policy makers and sponsors of non-point source pollution control projects is another important component of the SD WRI Information Transfer program. This is needed so that the lessons learned through research and implementation projects are not lost as the next generation of projects develop. SD WRI is committed to making this material readily available to persons within South Dakota as well as in other states. A library is maintained at SD WRI to make these materials readily available. Abstracts of research projects funded by the institute have been placed on the WRI web site along with photos and summaries showing progress on these projects will be published on the site as they become available.