SD Conservation.org

Conservation for Today, Tomorrow and the Future


Custer County Conservation District
25365 US Hwy 385 — Custer, SD 57730 Phone: 605-673-5680— FAX: 605-673-3028

The Custer County Conservation District is located in the Black Hills and the foothills of the Black Hills in western South Dakota. The district was established in 1937 and encompasses 997,632 acres of land. The terrain varies from prairie to rugged rock formations with altitudes ranging from 3200’ to 7000’. The district’s mission is to provide leadership and administer programs to help people conserve, improve, and sustain our natural resources and environment in Custer County.
Locally Led Success
Biological Weed Control
Since 1995, most of the Custer County Conservation Districts resources have been directed toward biological weed control, focusing on Canada thistle. The district released Ceuthorhynchs litura, (thistle stem mining weevil), and Urophoa cardui, (thistle gall fly), on 17 sites in Custer County. Either species can be used alone, but seem to be much more effective when used together. Through the districts research a second year release has been found to be the most beneficial. Monitoring has shown all sites have 55 to 95 percent reduction in thistle population in three to five years, with increases in native vegetation. Grant funds from several sources assisted with funding the purchase of the insects. The success with noxious weed control could never have been achieved without the partnerships involved. Those partners are: Custer County landowners, Custer State Park, SD Game, Fish & Parks, SD School & Public Lands, the Forest Service and Custer County Weed & Pest. The Custer County Conservation District will continue to seek funding that will assist with our efforts to control Canada thistle.
Thistle Gall Fly & Damage

Thistle Stem Mining Weevil & Damage

To contact Custer County Conservation District, click here

Conservation District Board of Supervisors and Staff

Jim Hughes Chairman Custer, SD	Stephen Tymkowych Vice Chairman Buffalo Gap, SD	Alice Allen Supervisor Custer, SD
Richard Rausch Supervisor Hermosa, SD	Brad Baker Supervisor Hermosa, SD	Gladwin Paulsen Advisor Custer, SD
Sandra Walker Office Manager Custer, SD

Photos courtesy USDA NRCS and SDACD Photo Contest
This website co-sponsored by: Big Sioux Nursery, Inc. Watertown, South Dakota