Home | Arizona | California | Colorado | Idaho | Kansas | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Mexico
North Dakota | Oklahoma | Oregon | South Dakota | Texas | Utah | Washington | Wyoming
Bridging-the-Headgate in South Dakota
Belle Fourche River Watershed Management and Project Implementation Plan
The Belle Fourche River Watershed Partnership (BFRWP) has been working together for over 6 years. The overall project goal is to bring Belle Fourche River into TMDL compliance for Total Suspended Solids (TSS) by implementing BMPs. This segment of the project will focus on BMPs that reduce the amount of irrigation water discharged to the local waterways from the irrigation water delivery and application as well as riparian vegetation improvement. Baseline and seasonal monitoring will be performed to measure improvement.
Partners providing funding, technical assistance, or carrying out the BMPs include Producers, and working on this Additional projects and funding proposals will be submitted during the next 7 years to continue implementing BMPs that reduce TSS and meet the TMDL.
The Partnership has completed monitoring and evaluation work and submitted a TMDL study for approval. Some of the BMPs recommended in the TMDL have been implemented (one flow automation unit, partial completion of replacing open ditches with pipeline, partial completion of pipeline projects from BFID to fields, partial completion of installation of sprinkler systems, partial completion of riparian vegetation improvement projects).
Planned BMPs will have a major impact on water quality (TSS reduction). A number of the planned BMPs will also result in improved on farm and delivery system irrigation water management, reduction in water diversion which could provide water for later or other uses, and improved on farm and delivery system irrigation efficiencies. These goals are shared by the Bridging the Headgate partnership. Many of the participating groups Belle Fourche River Watershed Partnership are also BTH partners.
BMPs include improved irrigation water handling Flow Automation Units, Upgraded Water Card and Water Order System, Portable Stage/Flow measuring Devices, Real-Time Stage Flow measuring Devices, Canal and lateral operational models, Lining Open Canals and Laterals, Replacing Open Canals and Laterals with Pipeline, adding Water Storage Ponds for storing unused irrigation water, Alternative Irrigation Water Systems for Johnson Lateral Sprinkler Irrigation Systems, Managed Riparian Grazing, Public Meetings, and Project Tours.
The following groups/agencies have been participating and will continue to participate in the Belle Fourche River Watershed implementation project:
- Butte County Conservation District – Voting member of the BFRWP, financial support and EQIP funding.
- Belle Fourche Irrigation District (BFID) – Voting member of the BFRWP, implements many BMPs,financial support and match funding.
- Belle Fourche River Watershed Partnership (BFRWP) – Local project sponsor.
- Elk Creek Conservation District – Voting member of the BFRWP, financial support and EQIP funding.
- Lawrence County – Local support, funding.
- Lawrence County Conservation District – Voting member of the BFRWP, financial support and EQIP funding.
- South Dakota Association of Conservation Districts – New active participant of BFRWP, full-time effort under the 319 grant program titled 303 (d) Watershed Planning and Assistance Project.
- South Dakota Conservation Commission – Local support and technical assistance.
- South Dakota Department of Agriculture – Technical assistance with Whitewood Creek Compensation Plan.
- South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (SD DENR) – Active participation in BFRWP, GIS services for BFID, technical support and financial support.
- South Dakota Game Fish and Parks – Technical assistance with Whitewood Creek Compensation Plan.
- South Dakota Grassland Coalition – Grassland management project.
- South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSM&T) – Active participant in BFWP, technical support through Dr. Kenner and graduate students. SDSM&T performed the initial TMDL study.
- US Army Corps of Engineers (COE) – Local support.
- Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) – Active participation in BFRWP, provide technical support through drawings and designs as requested by BFID, provides financial support, sponsors South Dakota State University (SDSU) Water Conservation Demonstrations and Bridging the Headgate initiative. Reclamation is also cost sharing a canal lining project.
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) – Provide 319 and 106 funding and technical guidance.
- US Geological Survey (USGS) – Active participant in BFRWP, field work, and technical and financial support.
- US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – Participant in BFRWP, technical support, and potential financial support.
- US Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) – Field work and lead agency for the river basin study to identify critical areas of nonpoint source pollution to the surface waters in the watershed. Providing funding through the Conservation Reserve Program(CRP), Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program(WHIP), and Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
- Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WY DEQ) – Local support and financial support for flow measurements at the South Dakota-Wyoming state line.
- Lead, SD – The town is working on a combined sewer separation project. Funded through the State Revolving Fund.
- Nisland, SD – The town is working on a lagoon project. Funded through the State Revolving Fund.
More information can be found here.
Reclamation Dakotas Area Office (DKAO) – Bridging-the-Headgate Agreements
DKAO entered into a "Bridging-the-Headgate" (B-T-H) cooperative agreement with Belle Fourche Irrigation District and Butte County Conservation District (working through the District Conservationist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service). The agreement was to input project and local utility facilities into a Geographical Information System database; provide technical assistance to the District and local irrigators, and to collect water quality data within the project.
Training and Education Opportunities
Financial assistance was provided to federal water entities for sponsorship of education and training activities related to water management and water operations. DKAO also has an agreement with South Dakota State University (SDSU) to provide educational information and activities to Reclamation water users. The activities included workshops and field-days as forums to discuss irrigation management, irrigation scheduling, estimating crop water use, and improving irrigation efficiencies.
SDSU developed an irrigation newsletter for Reclamation water users. DKAO participates in Children’s Water Festivals in South Dakota as an opportunity to educate elementary grade students in all facets of water. The festival's sessions are presented by natural resources professionals from federal, state, and local agencies; private organizations; and industry. The professionals discussed a broad range of water-related subjects with students and teachers, including the water cycle, water quality and uses, pollution prevention, water monitoring, and treatment.
Crop Water Use and Irrigation Scheduling Information
SDSU installed and renovated weather stations in Reclamation Irrigation Districts with funding provided by DKAO. The weather stations provide weather and crop water use information for Reclamation projects in South Dakota. The Districts plan to develop an internet web site to provide soils, water, cropping information, and maps to producers. SDSU delivered web-based crop water use (ET) for common crops to the farmers and water managers.
Conservation Technology Demonstration
DKAO has an agreement with SDSU to demonstrate and evaluate innovative conservation technologies to water users. Surge valves, mini-center pivots, subsurface drip irrigation, and alternative crops with lower water requirements are some of the technologies being demonstrated in South Dakota.
Reclamation worked with SDSU to implement two demonstration sites of mini center pivot systems. The demonstrations were implemented on the Angostura and Belle Fourche Irrigation Districts on previously flood irrigated fields that have soils types that were difficult to flood irrigate; and topography limiting flood irrigation efficiency. The Belle Fourche site indicated substantial water savings, with the mini pivot applying 75 percent less water than the adjacent flood irrigation system.Considerable interest in this technology has been generated in the two project areas as evident by over 30 new center pivot irrigation systems being installed since the demonstrations were initiated. This demonstration showed people the ability of center pivots to increase production and decrease labor in a cost effective manner.
Implementation of Conservation Measures
DKAO has cooperative agreements with two irrigation districts in South Dakota to cost-share the implementation of approved conservation measures on approximately 69,000 acres of irrigated farmland. DKAO is providing technical and financial assistance to Belle Fourche and Angostura Irrigation Districts to assess and replace high loss, high maintenance sections of open ditch lateral with buried pipe.
These projects reduce system water losses, improve water accounting and scheduling, and reduce seepage impacts to adjacent landowners. Other conservation measures being implementing include: water measurement and accounting systems; installing and rehabilitating water measurement structures; calibrating water control structures; purchasing surge valves; providing training to district personnel on water measurement, water district operation and maintenance, and canal operation and automation.
The Bureau of Reclamation report that contains this and other information can be viewed here.
