Aaron Sundmark, South Dakota Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit

Currently working with Dr. Larry Gigliotti (Assistant Unit Leader, South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit) on his PhD, Aaron is studying the social and economic value of small fishing lakes across South Dakota. His research interests range from human dimensions to fisheries management, and from Midwestern lakes and rivers to mountain coldwater reservoirs and streams. 

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks expressed a need for information to estimate the economic impact of fishing in selected small lakes and impoundments. Over time many of these lakes will require very expensive habitat renovation projects to improve or maintain quality recreational services. Economic information of the value of fishing can help inform decisions regarding expensive habitat renovation projects. The South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks selected 7 small lakes/dams in 3 different locations for the study. We collected angler use and expenditures used to estimate fishing pressure and total expenditures for each lake and type of fishing (shore, boat, and Ice fishing). This information is used to inform cost-benefit decisions on various types of small lakes/dams in South Dakota.