South Dakota's Wildlife Resources

Multiple Purpose Wetland Creation Partnership
SDACD, and it's member districts, are major partners with the US Fish & Wildlife Service in the "Partners for Fish and Wildlife" program. This partnership uses a "no rules" philosophy to develop partnerships and programs that simultaneously promote wildlife conservation and sustainable agriculture.
This philosophy has made it possible for this project to voluntarily restore, enhance, and develop tens of thousands of acres of grassland and wetland habitats throughout the state, all with full landowner support and encouragement. A common thread through every South Dakota Partners project is the ability to be flexible and responsive enough to accommodate the site-specific needs and concerns of landowners. Since 1991, this approach has resulted in over 3,100 South Dakota landowners becoming valued Partners for Fish and Wildlife partners, and the number of new landowner requests for assistance continues to accelerate.
		South Dakota Activities Wetland restoration Grassland restoration Wetland development Riparian restoration Grassland enhancement Prescribed burns
In South Dakota, our state Association of Conservation Districts receives grants and other contributions, and then funnels these funds out to 45 of their member Conservation Districts to pay for conservation work as part of Partners for Fish and Wildlife. For example, in April 1995 we channeled the following funds through the South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts:
	North American Wetland Conservation Fund FEMA U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ducks Unlimited Wildlife Forever Aberdeen Development Corporation South Dakota Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks	$767,675 600,000 504,000 169,000 10,000 30,000 10,000
Total:		$2,090,675
The Conservation Districts at the local level are the "eyes and ears" to seek out landowners who want to participate in the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program. The local Conservation Districts collect a cost share from the landowners and raise other local dollars from a variety of sources to complete partner conservation work. Through this work they earn "in-kind" credits, which earn even more grant dollars to flow to their districts. Visit the South Dakota Partners For Fish & Wildlife website for more information on this successful project.