SD Conservation.org

Conservation for Today, Tomorrow and the Future


Roberts Conservation District
P.O. Box 128; 2018 East Highway 10 — Sisseton, SD 57262-0128 Phone: 605-698-3923—FAX: 605-698-3561

Established in 1941, the Roberts Conservation District (Roberts County) is located in the extreme northeast corner of the state. The topography divides the county into two distinct areas. The Prairie Coteau occupies the west and southwest parts of the county. The terrain is rough and hilly with steep slopes and some undulating lands containing many lakes, sloughs, potholes, and marshes, with many drainage ways leading into larger drainages. The Minnesota Valley covers the eastern and northern parts of the county. Here land ranges from undulating to flat. Along the east edge of the county is a trench, about 100 feet below the valley that contains Lake Traverse and Big Stone Lake. Drainage of the area is mostly toward the Minnesota Valley. The drainage is unique in that much of it flows into the Whetstone and Minnesota rivers, enters Big Stone Lake and continues on to eventually discharge into the Gulf of Mexico. At the same time, a portion of the drainage enters Lake Traverse, continues on and eventually discharges into Hudson Bay.
Locally Led Success
Big Stone Lake Watershed Project & Lake Traverse Assessment Project
In 1986, the Roberts Conservation District became the sponsor of the Big Stone Lake Watershed Project. Big Stone Lake had been identified as having impaired water quality through an assessment program. The project is based on implementing best management practices (BMP’s) to prevent sediment and nutrients from entering the surface waters associated with Big Stone Lake. Areas of concentration were agricultural waste management systems (AWMS), ponds and dams, grassed waterways, buffer strips, stream bank stabilizations, and tree plantings, nutrient management plans, range management, and no till farming. Through partnerships with Natural Resource Conservation Service, Roberts County, Farm Service Agency, SD Department of Environment and Natural Resources, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, Conservation Commission, Ducks Unlimited, SD Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, and North American Wetlands, cost share was made available to assist producer with implementation of these practices. The practices implemented have made a marked reduction of sediment and pollutants entering the watershed, resulting in a reduced algae bloom in Big Stone Lake. While Big Stone Lake will never become a clear lake, the severity and duration of the blooms has, and will continue to improve, enhancing its recreational and esthetic qualities.
	Sisseton High School student, Neal Konda smiles as he performs a water discharge measurement on Jim Creek. Konda is an Earth Team volunteer and is assisting the Roberts Conservation District in assessing water quality on Lake Traverse. Neal compiled the data collected for use in his entry in the Sisseton Science Fair competition, where he earned Grand Champion honors.
Currently, an assessment project is underway for the Lake Traverse watershed. Once data is collected and feasibility is established, the intent is to enter into an implementation project as well. South Dakota DENR along with Roberts Conservation District has begun a 2 year water sampling project on Lake Traverse. Weekly water sampling began in early May and will continue into October. Periodic winter samples are also scheduled, with regular tributary and lake samples resuming in the spring run off period. Lake Traverse is listed as a water body impaired by algae caused by nutrient enrichment. Through water quality and land use analysis the sources of impairment to the lake will be documented. Feasibility recommendations can then be made and funds for project implementation will be granted to make improvements on the watershed and lake. The watershed covers 729,005 acres and is primarily located in Minnesota. Nutrient sources are all non-point and mostly come from agricultural activities. The implementation phase will focus on soil/water conservation practices and include manure management, no till farming, wetland restorations, and crop buffer zones.
To contact Roberts Conservation District, click here
Conservation District Board of Supervisors and Staff

Duane Schneider Chairman Sisseton, SD	Leon Palmer Vice Chairman Sisseton, SD	Eugene Sebek Treasurer Claire City, SD
Lynn Nigg Supervisor Sisseton, SD	Robert Osborne Supervisor Wilmot, SD	Calvin Thompson Asst. Supervisor Sisseton, SD
Cody Hanson Asst. Supervisor Sisseton, SD	June Helgeson District Manager Sisseton, SD	John Schaunaman Asst. Manager Sisseton, SD
Mike Jensen Lake Project Coordinator Sisseton, SD

Photos courtesy USDA NRCS and SDACD Photo Contest
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