Water Samples

Water samples are taken at designated SD Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) sites for monitoring different aspects of water quality. Of the many things that can be monitored, listed here are measurements for two years, taken in the spring of each year: dissolved oxygen levels (a level of 5 stresses living things; levels below 1, animals die). A measurement of pH is a measurement of the hydrogen ion (the level of acidity/base of the water); total nitrogen and total phosphorus, which are both nutrients (fertilizers) in the water and are great for growing algae. Profligate algae growth is not a great idea. When the algae dies, during decomposition, it burns up the oxygen, leaving less or even sometimes none for the animals living in the water. The expansion of the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico is a direct result of an overabundance of phosphorus and nitrogen in the water.

Water Data Comparison (2012 / 2013)

Waterbody	Site Location	I.D.	Dissolved O	pH	Total P	Total N
Lake Kampeska	Inlet / Outlet	k04	8.3 / 7.03	8.9 / 7.13	0.344 / 0.256	0.28 / 0.08
Big Sioux River	Near Wtn. Gague	k06	7.75 / 5.43	7.73 / 7.49	0.165 / 0.249	0.31 / <0.05
Big Sioux River	Near Florence Gauge	k07	7.44 / 8.28	7.47 / 7.13	0.178 / 0.233	0.22 / <0.05
Lake Kampeska	Midlake	k09	12.12 / 9.6	7.8 / 8.8	0.341 / 0.806	<0.05 / <0.05
Lake Kampeska	Midlake	k10	14.18 / 13.5	8.6 / 9.1	0.036 / 0.804	<0.05 / <0.05
Big Sioux River	155th St. Bridge	k12	7.95 / 9.53	7.65 7.93	0.155 / 0.232	0.19 / <0.05
Lake Pelican	East End	pl6	10.47 / 7.96	8.34 / 6.91	0.089 / 0.096	<0.05 / <0.05
Lake Pelican	West End	pl7	11.6 / 8.27	8.21 / 8.27	0.074 / 0.12	<0.05 / <0.05

Lake Kampeska Water Levels

With the transfer of the water treatment facility to the watershed project, and the repurposing of it into the Phosphorus Removal Facility (growing algae in the plant to eat the phosphorus, returning cleaner water to the river and removing the algae to be used for other purposes), the watershed project has been tasked with the responsibility of monitoring lake water levels in the raw water well at the intake to the water treatment plant. Daily and weekly, staff take readings of the water levels. (See tweet on main page of watershed project for levels). Another function of that responsibility is seasonal monitoring of 'ice up' and 'ice out' on Lake Kampeska. Water level history is found on twitter.

Big Sioux River Water Levels

To view current and real time river gauges throughout the Big Sioux watershed area or the entire state, go to the Waterwatch site at the USGS.