Unified Interior Regions
South Dakota
Surface water and groundwater provide important water supplies in South Dakota. Major rivers include the Big Sioux, James, Cheyenne, and Missouri Rivers. Key aquifers include the Dakota, Madison, Minnelusa, and Big Sioux aquifers. The Dakota Water Science Center has many studies that focus on these resources as well various other national and international studies.
States L2 Landing Page Tabs
Bedrock Groundwater Levels for Selected Wells located in Western Pennington County
Bedrock Groundwater Levels for Selected Wells located in Western Pennington County
Crow Creek Surface-Water Quality Study
Project Period: 2009-2011
Cooperators: Crow Creek Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Project Chief: Joyce Williamson
Chemistry of Uncontaminated Alluvial Deposits of the Cheyenne and Belle Fourche Rivers, South Dakota
Project Period: 2009-10
Cooperators: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Project Chief: John Stamm
Missouri River Bank Erosion on the Lower Brule Reservation
Project Period: 2011- ongoing
Cooperator: Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe
Project Chief: Ryan Thompson
Application of Paleoflood Survey Techniques for the Black Hills of South Dakota
Project Period: 2008-2010
Cooperators: South Dakota Department of Transportation, Federal Emergency Management Agency, West Dakota Water Development District, City of Rapid City
Project Chief: Dan Driscoll
Analysis of Ground-Water Resources in the Aberdeen area
Project Period: 2007-2010
Cooperator: City of Aberdeen
Project Chief: Larry Putnam
Stormwater Monitoring in Rapid City
Project Period: 2008-current
Cooperator: City of Rapid City
Project Chief: Galen Hoogestraat
Hydrologic Information for Evaluation of Reservoir Management Strategies for Sheridan Lake to Enhance Fish Habitat in Spring Creek
Project Period: 2007-2008
Cooperator: South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks
Project Chief: Dan Driscoll
Madison Aquifer Study in the Rapid City Area
Project Period: 2000-2008
Cooperator: City of Rapid City
Project Chief: Larry Putnam
National Rivers and Streams Assessment in South Dakota
Project Period: 2008-2009
Cooperator: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Project Chief: Kathy Neitzert
Statewide Flood-Frequency Analyses for Streamflow Gaging Stations in South Dakota
Project Period: 2002-2008
Cooperator: South Dakota Department of Transportation
Project Chief: Dan Driscoll
Sensitivity of Ground Water to Contamination in Lawrence County, South Dakota
Sensitivity of Ground Water to Contamination in Lawrence County, South Dakota
Verification of Reference Elevations at USGS streamgage in SD
Student hydrologic technician Jackie Eldredge holding the rod over one of the known reference points at streamgage 06404998, Grace Coolidge Creek near Game Lodge near Custer, SD. One step in ensuring consistent streamflow data is verifying that the reference elevation at the streamgage stays consistent and that any changes are documented. All of the USGS streamgages have
...Reading Elevation of a Known Reference Point in SD
Hydrologic technician Kammy Durham reading the elevation of a known reference point at streamgage 06404998, Grace Coolidge Creek near Game Lodge near Custer, SD. One step in ensuring consistent streamflow data is verifying that the reference elevation at the streamgage stays consistent and that any changes are documented. All of the USGS streamgages have multiple reference
...Daily Operations of Landsat 7
What it takes each day to keep Landsat 7 operating smoothly. Hear the stories from inside the L7 Mission Operation Center.
Water-Quality Sampling at Ellsworth Air Force Base
Hydrologic Technician Kammy Durham collecting water-quality samples from a well at Ellsworth Air Force Base for analysis.
Groundwater-Level Measurement at Ellsworth Air Force Base
Student hydrologist Todd Anderson assisting with water level measurements and purging of a well at a research location at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. The groundwater level is measured and the well is purged prior to collecting water-quality samples from wells.
Groundwater-Level Measurement at Ellsworth Air Force Base
Student hydrologist Wyatt Tatge assisting with water level measurements and purging of a well at a research location at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. The groundwater level is measured and the well is purged prior to collecting water-quality samples from wells.
Discharge Measurement on Moreau River near Faith (06359500)
Hydrologic technician Sarah Davis preparing for a discharge measurement of the Moreau River near Faith, SD (streamgage 06359500). Sarah is ensuring that the meter and weight enter into the river properly. During high flows, the USGS uses a tractor to assist in the discharge measurement where other technology like acoustics will not work due to the high sediment within the
...Discharge Measurement on Moreau River near Faith (06359500)
Hydrologic technicians Sarah Davis and Jackie Eldredge preparing for a discharge measurement of the Moreau River near Faith, SD (streamgage 06359500). During high flows, the USGS uses a tractor to assist in the discharge measurement where other technology like acoustics will not work due to the high sediment within the stream and where a heavy weight is needed to keep the
...June 2018 Flow on Elk Creek near Rapid City, SD (06425100)
USGS Hydrologic Technician Kammy Durham measuring discharge of Elk Creek near Rapid City, SD (streamgage 06407500), to capture peak flow after heavy rains during the week of June 18, 2018. The flow at this streamgage was 81 cubic feet per second on June 21, 2018. USGS staff collect streamflow information (discharge, river stage, and high water marks) on a regular basis and
...June 2018 Flow on Spring Creek near Keystone, SD (06407500)
USGS Hydrologic Technician Kammy Durham measuring discharge of Spring Creek near Keystone, SD (streamgage 06407500), to capture peak flow after heavy rains during the week of June 18, 2018. The flow at this streamgage was 69 cubic feet per second on June 21, 2018. USGS staff collect streamflow information (discharge, river stage, and high water marks) on a regular basis
...Discharge Measurement on Whitewood Creek above Whitewood, SD
On June 20, 2018, hydrologic technician Kammy Durham measured a discharge of 209 cubic feet per second on Whitewood Creek above Whitewood, SD (streamgage 06436180) after the watershed received about 2 inches of rain the previous evening. Streams in the Black Hills of western South Dakota can rise and fall quickly in response to rain.
Verification of High Water Mark on Whitewood Creek above Whitewood, SD
On June 20, 2018, hydrologic technician Kammy Durham verified the high water mark on Whitewood Creek above Whitewood, SD (streamgage 06436180) after the watershed received about 2 inches of rain the previous evening. Streams in the Black Hills of western South Dakota can rise and fall quickly in response to rain.
New wind energy facilities placed in prime wildlife habitat in North and South Dakota can influence the distribution of several species of grassland birds for years after construction, including species whose populations are in serious decline.
The drainage of small wetlands can decrease wildlife habitat and may contribute to flooding in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study.
Wetland channels constructed in downtown Rapid City, South Dakota, effectively reduced many pollutants in stormwater runoff, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey report.
Aldo V. (Skip) Vecchia, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist, will be awarded the 2015 Jeanne E. Griffith Mentoring Award for his outstanding efforts mentoring junior staff.
U.S. Geological Survey streamflow gages are recording major flooding on the White River and Cheyenne River as the result of recent snow and rain. Field crews are measuring streamflow on the White River and the Cheyenne River and minor flooding at various sites throughout western South Dakota
MENLO PARK, Calif.— Smartphones and other personal electronic devices could, in regions where they are in widespread use, function as early warning systems for large earthquakes according to newly reported research.
MENLO PARK, California — Los teléfonos móviles y otros dispositivos electrónicos personales podrían ayudar en las regiones donde se encuentran en uso generalizado, y pueden funcionar como sistemas de alerta para terremotos mayor según la nueva investigación científica recien publicada.
Media and the public are invited to attend a free meeting and field trips about South Dakota water issues on April 15 and 16 in Rapid City.
The presence of non-native plant species is significantly greater adjacent to oil well pads than in non-developed areas of the Williston Basin, according to a first-of-its-kind U.S. Geological Survey study for this area.
Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced today that Interior’s North Central Climate Science Center in Fort Collins, Colorado, is awarding nearly $400,000 to universities and other partners.
The U.S. Geological Survey has released a new report detailing changes of groundwater levels in the High Plains Aquifer. The report presents water-level change data in the aquifer for two separate periods: from 1950 – the time prior to significant groundwater irrigation development – to 2013, and 2011 to 2013.
As part of the continued US Topo maps revision and improvement cycle, the USGS will be including mountain bike trails to upcoming quadrangles on a state-aligned basis.