SD Water Science Center: Welcome Page

Water Resources of South Dakota

Welcome to the USGS Web page for water resources in South Dakota. Here, you will find information on South Dakota's rivers and streams. You will also find information on ground water, water quality, and many other topics. The USGS operates the most extensive satellite network of stream-gaging stations in South Dakota, many of which form the backbone of flood-warning systems.

Realtime Streamflow

Stream gage levels in South Dakota, relative to 30 year average.

Current Activities

Project Highlights

Madison Aquifer Study in Rapid City Area

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the city of Rapid City have had a long-term cooperative relationship to conduct hydrologic investigations to better understand the complex system that supplies water to Rapid City and the surrounding area. The objectives of the study include maintaining a water-level monitoring network, conducting aquifer tests, analyzing ground-water flow paths using environmental and anthropogenic tracers, compiling and evaluating water budgets, and developing conceptual and numerical models of the aquifers.

Several reports are available for this project, including: (1) A conceptual model of the Madison and Minnelusa aquifers in the Rapid City area, and (2) Analysis of ground-water flow in the Madison aquifer using fluorescent dyes. Additional information about this project also is available.

Other highlights are:

Missouri River Water Information Portal
2009 Western South Dakota Hydrology Conference - April 23
2008 Eastern South Dakota Water Conference - October 22-23
Pennington County Ground-Water Levels
USGS FY2009 Budget Status

Featured Publication

The report "Estimated Use of Water in South Dakota, 2005" was completed in cooperation with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources. This report describes estimated water use in South Dakota that is based on the total withdrawals from ground-water and surface-water resources by county for 2005. Eight categories of offstream wateruse—public supply, domestic, industrial, thermoelectric power, mining, livestock, aquaculture, and irrigation—and one instream use (hydroelectric power generation) are described in this report. The report is available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2008/5216/.

USGS in the News

Lawrence County Commission tables feedlot permit decision (January 7, 2009)
Feedlot expansion decision delayed (January 2, 2009)
USGS hydrologist honored for studies (October 21, 2008)
Preserving Black Hills watersheds (October 16, 2008)
Seventh graders get up close and personal with nature (October 14, 2008)
Floodplain management becomes priority (August 12, 2008)
Recent moisture helps replenish aquifers (May 13, 2008)
High Plains aquifer water quality varies from state to state (April 24, 2008)

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ABOUT THE SOUTH DAKOTA Water Science Center

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