Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2014SD238B

South Dakota Water Resources Institute FY2014 Information Transfer Program

Institute: South Dakota
Year Established: 2014 Start Date: 2014-03-01 End Date: 2015-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $16,950 Total Non-Federal Funds: $32,146

Principal Investigators: Van Kelley, Kevin Dalsted, Jeppe Kjaersgaard

Project Summary: The Information Transfer Program includes public outreach, active participation in the annual Dakotafest Farm Show, field days, steering committee representation and active involvement in the Big Sioux Water Festival and in the Eastern South Dakota Water Conference, interactions with extension specialists and local, state and federal agencies, participation and presentations at regional and national conferences, youth education, adult education and university student training and education. Outreach activities include communication using the Institute’s website including separate pages for research projects, Institute activities, resources for water supply and quality relating to surface water, irrigation and lawn care, livestock water use, household water use and groundwater protection. The Institute also actively uses social media to communicate with constituents. The Institute actively promotes its activities and impacts through the quarterly newsletter and by organizing, either as the lead organization or as a steering committee member, conferences, meeting and festivals. Institute personnel and collaborators actively publishes and promotes the research findings in peer-reviewed journal articles, factsheets and other publications as well as presentations at conferences and meetings. SDWRI’s Information Transfer program includes interaction with local, state and federal agencies/entities to find management actions and solutions of water-related problems in South Dakota. The SDWRI is represented as a non-core member at the Non-Point Source Task Force, which is administered by the SD Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Institute personnel has established a strong collaboration with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service to analyze and interpret information from ongoing research activities by the SDWRI and others to produce conservation practice standards. Water quality interpretation is provided by the SDWRI and its collaborators for livestock producers, irrigators, homeowners and others. Publications, such as pamphlets, educational materials, reports and peer-reviewed journal entries, are made available in paper and electronic formats through the SDWRI’s website and are designed to support the SDWRI mission.