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Galen Hoogestraat

Galen Hoogestraat is a hydrologist for the Dakota Water Science Center (DWSC). Galen has been involved in various hydrologic investigations in the Dakotas including water-quality monitoring, stormwater, surface water models, and streamflow trends. Galen also serves as the DWSC reports specialist, social media coordinator, and is the current chair of the Western South Dakota Hydrology Conference.

Education and Certifications

  • B.S. Environmental Engineering, 2007, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota

  • M.S. Civil Engineering, 2009, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Rapid City, South Dakota

Science and Products

Water-quality data and trends in the Rapid Creek Basin, South Dakota, 1970–2020

Surface-water-quality data in the Rapid Creek Basin in South Dakota were compiled to assess basic trends in the water quality of Rapid Creek. Spatial and temporal patterns in water quality were described for major ions, sediment, total suspended solids, nutrients, field measurements, bacteria, and select metals for the period of 1970–2020, and a water-quality trend analysis was completed for sites
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Dakota Water Science Center

Borehole analysis, single-well aquifer testing, and water quality for the Burnpit well, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota

Mount Rushmore National Memorial (hereafter referred to as “the memorial”), in western South Dakota, is maintained by the National Park Service (NPS) and includes 1,278 acres of land in the east-central part of the Black Hills. An ongoing challenge for NPS managers at the memorial is providing water from sustainable and reliable sources for operations, staff, and the increasing number of visitors.
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Dakota Water Science Center

Stormwater quality of infrastructure elements in Rapid City, South Dakota, 2016–18

As runoff flows over the land or impervious surfaces (paved streets, parking lots, and building roofs), it accumulates debris, chemicals, sediment, and other contaminants that can adversely affect water quality if the runoff discharge remains untreated. Pathogens, commonly measured using fecal indicator bacteria such as Escherichia coli, enterococci, or fecal coliform, are the most-frequent cause
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Dakota Water Science Center
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2017 SD Hydrology Conference Exhibit and Poster Area

Western South Dakota Hydrology Conference

The 2022 Western South Dakota Hydrology Conference will be held on April 27, 2022, at the Monument, Rapid City, SD. Registration will open on February 14, 2022. Previous years' program and abstracts are available from the "Multimedia" tab on this page.
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Dakota Water Science Center
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Western South Dakota Hydrology Conference

The 2022 Western South Dakota Hydrology Conference will be held on April 27, 2022, at the Monument, Rapid City, SD. Registration will open on February 14, 2022. Previous years' program and abstracts are available from the "Multimedia" tab on this page.
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Figure 1

Real-time, Continuous Nitrate Monitoring of the Big Sioux River near Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Project Period: ongoingCooperators: City of Sioux Falls and East Dakota Water Development DistrictProject Chief: Galen Hoogestraat
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Dakota Water Science Center
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Real-time, Continuous Nitrate Monitoring of the Big Sioux River near Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Project Period: ongoingCooperators: City of Sioux Falls and East Dakota Water Development DistrictProject Chief: Galen Hoogestraat
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Mount Rushmore water sampling

Study to Examine Water-Quality Concerns within Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Project Period: 2011-2016Cooperators: Mount Rushmore National MemorialProject Chief: Galen Hoogestraat
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Dakota Water Science Center
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Study to Examine Water-Quality Concerns within Mount Rushmore National Memorial

Project Period: 2011-2016Cooperators: Mount Rushmore National MemorialProject Chief: Galen Hoogestraat
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Canyon Lake

Water-Quality Monitoring of Canyon Lake

Project Period: May 2017 - September 2018Cooperator: West Dakota Water Development DistrictProject Chief: Galen Hoogestraat
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Dakota Water Science Center
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Water-Quality Monitoring of Canyon Lake

Project Period: May 2017 - September 2018Cooperator: West Dakota Water Development DistrictProject Chief: Galen Hoogestraat
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Model Scripts and Water-Quality Data for Trends in the Rapid Creek Basin, South Dakota, 1970–2020

This page contains a zipped folder which contains all items necessary to run trend models and produce results published in U.S. Geological Scientific Investigations Report 2022-5086 [Tatge, W.S., Hoogestraat, G., and Nustad, R.A., 2022, Water-Quality Data and Trends in the Rapid Creek Basin, South Dakota, 1970–2020: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2022-5086]. To run t
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Dakota Water Science Center

Borehole Video and Aquifer Test Data for the Burnpit Well, Mount Rushmore National Memorial, South Dakota, 2020

This data release contains borehole video and aquifer-test data for the Burnpit well (U.S. Geological Survey [USGS] National Water Information System identification 435240103265301), Mount Rushmore National Memorial, collected in June and July 2020. The data accompany a USGS Scientific Investigations Report by Eldridge and others (2021).
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Dakota Water Science Center
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Public Invitation: Learn the Latest on Your Water Resources in the Dakotas

News media and the public are invited to a free meeting about critical South Dakota-area water issues on Thursday, April 11, in Rapid City, South...
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Public Invitation: The Scoop on Western South Dakota’s Vital Water Resources

Media and the public are invited to attend a free meeting about South Dakota water issues on Thursday, April 19, in Rapid City, South Dakota.
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Fireworks Likely Caused Water Contamination at Mount Rushmore

Past fireworks displays are the probable cause of elevated concentrations of a contaminant called perchlorate in groundwater and surface water within...

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Climate the Main Cause of Increasing Streamflow in Eastern South Dakota

Increased precipitation is the primary cause of rising streamflow in many eastern South Dakota streams, according to arecent U.S. Geological Survey...

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Pollution Reduced in Rapid City Stormwater Runoff

Wetland channels constructed in downtown Rapid City, South Dakota, effectively reduced many pollutants in stormwater runoff, according to a recent U.S...
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Image: Slope-Area Measurements in Northern Black Hills, SD
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Image: Stormwater Runoff in Rapid City, SD
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Image: Stormwater Runoff in Rapid City, SD
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Image: Buffalo at Indirect Measurement at Beaver Creek, SD
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Image: Stormwater Runoff in Rapid City, SD
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Image: Stormwater Runoff in Rapid City, SD
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Science and Products