U.S. Department of the Interior a U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Geological Survey

Programs in South Dakota

Gaging station

Water-quality and sediment station

Observation well

EXPLANATION

Missouri River

For more than 100 years, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has provided the information needed to manage the Nation’s earth 

resources, to mitigate natural hazards, and to 

understand the environment. In South 

Dakota, the USGS works cooperatively with 

local, State, and other Federal agencies, as 

well as with universities, to study earth science issues.

Topographic Mapping

Among the most popular and versatile 

products of the USGS are its 1:24,000-scale 

topographic maps (1 inch on the map represents 2,000 feet on the ground). These maps 

depict the basic natural and cultural features 

of the landscape, such as lakes and streams, 

highways and railroads, boundaries, and geographic names. Contour lines are used to 

depict the elevation and shape of terrain. 

South Dakota is covered by 1,552 maps at 

this scale. These maps are used by scientists 

and managers for engineering, land-use planning, natural-resource monitoring, and other 

technical applications and have long been 

favorites with the general public for outdoor 

uses. These maps also serve as bases for 

many special purpose maps produced by 

other agencies, such as State, county, and 

local highway maps; land-use and ownership 

maps; geologic maps; and recreational maps.

Recent technological advances, particularly in the field of geographic information 

systems (GIS), have increased demand for 

digital map products for South Dakota, especially of the Black Hills area. This area was 

identified as having priority map data 

requirements by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the 

National Park Service (NPS), and other agencies. To minimize duplication of effort, the 

USGS is currently producing digital map 

data for more than 100 1:24,000-scale maps 

of the Black Hills area. The data provide the 

base cartographic data needed by many Federal and State agency users for their specific 

GIS and resource-management activities in 

the region. The USGS has cooperative agreements to produce digital elevation models 

(DEM’s) and digital orthophotoquads 

(DOQ’s) in South Dakota. DOQ’s are digitized images of aerial photographs with relief 

distortion removed. In cost-sharing agreements with the NPS, the USGS is producing 

DOQ’s for Mount Rushmore National 

Memorial, Badlands National Park, Wind 

Cave National Park, and Jewel Cave National 

Monument. 

The USGS also has cooperative programs 

to produce digital cartographic data for the 

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Area Office in 

South Dakota. DOQ’s have been produced 

for the Flandreau Indian Tribe in southeastern South Dakota, and DEM’s are scheduled 

for several areas of the State. These data provide a foundation for natural-resource management for the BIA and tribal governments.

The USGS recently completed the digitizing of Public Land Survey System data for 

the State east of the Missouri River. The 

USFWS’ Wetland Habitat Office uses the 

township, range, and section information as a 

base for wetlands analysis.

Water-Resource Data Collection

Data on quantity and quality of streamflow and ground water provide an increased 

understanding of the water resources of 

South Dakota. These data are necessary for 

forecasting floods and droughts, designing 

reservoirs and water-supply systems, sizing 

highway structures, and managing water use. 

The USGS began systematic collection of 

streamflow data in 1903 with the establishment of 13 gaging stations in the Black Hills 

area. During 1996, the USGS, in cooperation 

with 31 Federal, State, and local agencies, 

has been operating an extensive data-collection network. The network includes 137 continuous-record gaging stations on streams 

and lakes, 23 crest-stage stations, 46 precipitation stations, 27 water-quality and sediment 

stations, and 7 observation wells (fig. 1). The 

USGS also processes and stores water-level 

data for about 65 additional wells operated 

by the State. Most of the basic data are published annually in Water Resources Data—

South Dakota. Selected streamflow data also 

are available on the World-Wide Web.

Geologic Mapping and

Mineral-Resource Appraisals

Geologic mapping and research by the 

USGS is of direct benefit to numerous Federal, State, and local agencies. As an example, the USGS, in cooperation with the South 

Dakota Geological Survey (SDGS), is compiling and publishing a new State geologic 

map.

Mapping and research benefit numerous 

agencies in their land-use planning and such 

commercial ventures as the mining and tourism industries of the Black Hills. Because the 

economic health of the northern Black Hills 

depends, in large part, on the $150-million-ayear mining industry, western South Dakota 

has a vested interest in a viable mining indusFigure 1. Locations where streamflow, waterquality, sediment, and water-level data were 

collected by the USGS during 1996.

Index of Subjects

Topographic Mapping

Water-Resource Data Collection

Geologic Mapping and Mineral-Resource 

Appraisals

Water-Resource Appraisals

Earth Resources Observation Systems

Data Center

Geologic Information for Land-Use Planning

Water-Resources Information for Indian Tribes

Lake and Reservoir Sedimentation

Use of Bedrock Aquifers for Water Supply in 

the Black Hills Area

Quality of Urban Stormwater Runoff

Effects of Floods and Droughts

Environmental Concerns at Defense 

Facilities

National Water-Quality Assessment Program

Earth Science in the Public Service
Completed

EXPLANATION

In progress

County boundary

Black Hills Hydrology


Not scheduled Study boundary

try. The interaction of science and technology 

ensures that mining in the future is compatible with other industries and will be conducted with due regard for private and 

Federal lands and the environment. Preparation of a new geologic map of the Black Hills 

at a scale of 1:100,000, in cooperation with 

the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, is underway and is intended to serve 

as a base for all future investigations in the 

Black Hills area. Ongoing geologic research 

by the USGS, in cooperation with private 

industry at the Homestake and the Annie 

Creek Mines, will streamline exploration, 

improve ore-reserve estimation, improve metallurgical techniques, and assess the future 

impacts of mining in the northern Black 

Hills. Information from the research aids 

USGS hydrologists in modeling the longterm quality of surface and ground waters in 

the entire Black Hills area. Other beneficiaries include the U.S. Forest Service for their 

assessments of future developments on forest 

lands and Federal and State agencies for making effective and informed land-use decisions.

Water-Resource Appraisals

The USGS, in cooperation with the SDGS 

and various counties, Indian Tribes, and 

Water Development Districts, has been 

appraising water resources in South Dakota 

since 1958 (fig. 2). Typically, the studies are 

done on a county-by-county basis and last 3 

to 4 years; many studies have involved multiple counties. Most county studies in the eastern part of the State have been completed, 

and areal studies have recently begun in the 

western part. The studies typically use extensive test-hole drilling and observation-well 

installation and monitoring to determine the 

availability, movement, recharge, discharge, 

and quality of water in glacial and bedrock 

aquifers. The studies usually result in four 

reports, three of which—detailed geology, 

major aquifers, and sand and gravel—are 

published by the SDGS, and one—detailed 

water resources—is published by the USGS. 

The reports are useful for water-resource 

planning by State and local agencies and by 

local citizens.

Earth Resources Observation 

Systems Data Center

The USGS Earth Resources Observation 

Systems (EROS) Data Center near Sioux 

Falls is the world's largest nonmilitary repository of remotely sensed data of the Earth's 

land surface. Much earth science research is 

based on images from the EROS archives, 

which hold worldwide digital image data 

from satellite-borne sensors and more than 7 

million aerial mapping photographs of the 

Nation. EROS distributes large quantities of 

digital and photographic products to governmental and commercial users and to the general public at the cost of reproduction.

EROS hosted the Scientific Assessment 

and Strategy Team (SAST), which was a Federal response to massive flooding in the Missouri River and the Mississippi River 

drainage basins that devastated crops, homes, 

and businesses during 1993. The SAST effort 

was summarized in a report that provides scientific advice and assistance to Federal officials responsible for making decisions with 

respect to flood recovery and supplies information regarding nonstructural and structural 

approaches to river basin management.

EROS participation as a cooperator in the 

Great Plains Initiative is another example of 

its regional role. The Great Plains Initiative, 

which was one of the results of the Western 

Governors Conference, is demonstrating that 

economic development and ecological management can be served by preventing the 

decline of wildlife species and their ecosystems. The work involves gathering and linking data bases of the ecosystems of the Great 

Plains. The EROS contribution to this cooperative interagency effort is to provide earth science information and to develop data-transfer 

technologies.

South Dakota also benefits from EROS 

data collection, research, and dissemination 

of information at continental and global 

scales. Because of repeated coverage of large 

areas, satellite sensors can detect changes on 

the Earth's surface. For example, EROS scientists use data from these sensors to construct timely maps that show vegetation 

condition or “greenness” information (fig. 3), 

and provide these data to the South Dakota 

Department of Agriculture as part of the 

Grassland Fire Danger Assessment Project. 

This statewide information is updated on a 

weekly basis. Greenness information also is 

sent to the National Weather Service in Sioux 

Falls where it is combined with daily weather 

information to forecast fire danger conditions. 

Whenever severe conditions exist, current 

information is provided to emergency monitoring centers and the news media for broadcast to the public. Numerous global-scale 

applications, such as showing probable 

migration routes of locust hordes in Africa, 

also exist.

As part of its outreach and educational 

activities within South Dakota, EROS is a 

partner in the South Dakota Space Grant 

Consortium. This group, which is dedicated 

to improving research capabilities within the 

State, works closely with several universities. 

Through the program, EROS hosts researchers who work in areas of mutual interest each 

summer.

The USGS Earth Science Information 

Centers (ESIC) provide information about the 

USGS, its programs, products, and technological developments to the public. The 

USGS operates an ESIC at the EROS Data 

Center and in Vermillion, which was established under a cooperative agreement 

between the USGS and the SDGS. As part of 

the national ESIC network, these offices provide information on such earth science topics 

as cartography, geography, digital data, 

remote sensing, geology, geophysics, 

geochemistry, hydrology, geohydrology, 

aerial photography, and land use. Each ESIC 

is supported by the USGS with reference 

materials, technical assistance, training and 

outreach activities, products available to purchase, and access to USGS data bases.

Geologic Information for LandUse Planning

USGS geologists, in cooperation with the 

SDGS, are identifying potential consequences 

of land-use and land-management activities. 

The distribution, thickness, and engineering 

characteristics of surficial deposits are being 

mapped and compiled for the Quaternary 

Figure 2. South Dakota counties and status of 

county and multicounty water-resources 

appraisals.

Figure 3. Grassland “greenness” by county, 

for the week of September 21, 1995.

Low grassland greenness and susceptibility


 to grassland fire under hot, dry, and windy


 conditions

High greenness and low susceptibility to fire

EXPLANATION
Atlas of the United States. Detailed maps that 

show bedrock geology, erosion and deposition, areas of geologic hazards, and potential 

effects of land use and development in South 

Dakota are being prepared as part of a 

regional study of environmental change in the 

Missouri River Basin.

Water-Resources Information 

for Indian Tribes

Water-resources information is critical for 

water-resource planning by South Dakota's 

nine Indian Tribes (fig. 4). Hydrogeologic 

studies for six Tribes were completed by the 

USGS during the 1970's and the 1980's as a 

part of the U.S. Department of the Interior's 

Program for Development of the Missouri 

River Basin. Water-resource studies are now 

in progress for five of the Tribes to meet 

today's changing needs.

Water-resources investigations are underway by the USGS in cooperation with the Sisseton-Wahpeton and Rosebud Tribes, the 

Bureau of Indian Affairs, SDGS, local counties, and local water districts. Water-resources 

appraisals of the Lower Brule, Cheyenne, and 

Pine Ridge Reservations will be used to support development of comprehensive water 

plans. Subsequent studies have begun for several tribes to integrate hydrologic and geologic 

data by using GIS analysis. The USGS has 

completed aquifer tests on the Pine Ridge 

Reservation to evaluate ground water as a 

source for irrigation. Sampling is underway to 

evaluate water quality at the proposed intake 

for the Mni Wiconi rural water system.

Lake and Reservoir 

Sedimentation

In response to public concern about the 

water quality and sedimentation of South 

Dakota lakes, the Department of Environment 

and Natural Resources (DENR) is undertaking diagnostic/feasibility studies in conjunction with the Clean Lakes Program in the 

State. The USGS, in cooperation with the 

















Completed 1970–80

EXPLANATION

New Investigations in progress

Not scheduled

Rapid City

PIERRE Huron Brookings

Sioux Falls

STANDING


ROCK

CROW


CREEK

CHEYENNE


RIVER

PINE RIDGE

ROSEBUD

LOWER BRULE

SISSETON-


WAHPETON 

FLANDREAU

YANKTON

Figure 4. Status of geohydrologic 

investigations for South Dakota Indian Tribes.

DENR and local lake associations, is conducting sediment surveys of several lakes. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

(USACE) is concerned about sedimentation 

of Missouri River reservoirs, especially Lake 

Francis Case near the confluence of the White 

River and Lake Sharpe near the confluence of 

the Bad River. The USGS recently completed 

a sediment survey near the White River confluence. The USGS, in cooperation with the 

local Conservation District and the Natural 

Resources Conservation Service, also collects 

hydrologic data in support of sediment studies within the Bad River Basin; this Basin has 

been identified as one of the demonstration 

projects for “Ecosystem Management.”

Use of Bedrock Aquifers for 

Water Supply in the Black Hills 

Area

A series of bedrock aquifers that underlie 

much of the State is recharged in outcrop 

areas of the Black Hills. Population growth 

and associated development in this area are 

increasing the demand for water from and the 

potential for contamination of these aquifers. 

Several studies are underway to address these 

issues. 

The Black Hills Hydrology Study (fig. 2) 

is a planned 10-year hydrogeologic study in a 

six-county area that began during 1990 in 

cooperation with the DENR and local cooperators. Preliminary efforts have focused on 

determining the quantity and quality of surface and ground waters. Water-level records 

from an extensive network of observation 

wells are used to monitor water-level trends. 

Observation wells also are being used for 

water-quality monitoring and isotope analyses. Study efforts include hydrologic budgeting, determination of aquifer characteristics, 

and modeling of ground-water flow.

The Madison and the Minnelusa aquifers 

are particularly important to the Black Hills 

area because large well yields are possible. 

Objectives of ongoing studies in cooperation 

with Rapid City and Spearfish include determination of aquifer characteristics, well-head 

protection, and modeling of ground-water 

flow and solute transport. Solute transport is 

of particular concern because of the fractured 

nature of most Black Hills aquifers. The 

aquifers also are being studied as part of the 

USGS National Research Program on fractured limestone aquifers.

Quality of Urban Stormwater 

Runoff

The USGS, in cooperation with Sioux 

Falls, is studying urban stormwater quality to 

assist the city with collection of technical 

information about impacts of nonpoint 

source runoff on stream quality. The information is necessary for obtaining a National 

Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, which is required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for cities 

with more than 100,000 people. The study 

includes evaluation of stormwater quality in 

selected storm channels and evaluation of 

methods for predicting water-quality conditions in urban environments. The results of 

this study will be applicable to other communities with similar environmental settings.

Effects of Floods and Droughts

Sustained flooding occurred over much of 

South Dakota during 1995. USGS streamflow-gaging station data were vital in determining the magnitude and extent of flooding. 

Record peaks were measured at 34 gaging 

stations, and peaks with recurrence intervals 

of greater than 10 years were recorded at an 

additional 22 stations. Peaks with recurrence 

intervals of 100 years or greater occurred at 

two stations, Hay Creek at Belle Fourche and 

James River near Redfield. Flood conditions 

are summarized in USGS Fact Sheet FS–

164–95 entitled Floods in South Dakota, 

Spring 1995.

A comprehensive understanding of flood 

characteristics is necessary for the design of 

highway and flood-control structures, landuse planning, establishment of flood-insurance rates, and development of evacuation 

plans. Statewide flood-frequency studies 

from 15 to 20 years ago that related peakflow magnitudes to basin characteristics are 

being updated in cooperation with the South 

Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT). 

The USGS, in cooperation with North Sioux 

City and Lincoln County, is analyzing hydrologic data in support of a Federal Emergency 

Management Agency National Flood Insurance Program study.

A 1991 survey of bridge failures in the 

United States since 1950 showed that 60 percent of the failures were associated with 

channel instability and scour around bridge 

piers and abutments. The USGS, in cooperation with the DOT and the Federal Highway 

Administration, has recently completed a 5-

year investigation of channel scour at 31 

bridges in South Dakota.

Droughts in South Dakota are devastating 

to the State's agriculture industry. During 

periods of drought, the USGS works with 

numerous agencies to disseminate the 

streamflow and water-level data needed by 

State agencies to regulate water rights and to 

maintain instream-flow requirements.
For More

Information

An example of flood information disseminated by the USGS is shown in figure 5. 

EROS Landsat satellite images of a part of 

the James River Basin north of Redfield 

show the contrast between less-than-normal 

streamflow on May 25, 1993, and flood conditions on May 15, 1995.

Environmental Concerns at 

Defense Facilities

The USGS, in cooperation with Ellsworth 

Air Force Base, is studying the possible 

hydrologic effects of the explosive demolition of Minuteman II missile silos in western 

South Dakota in compliance with the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. Nearby wells 

have been tested to ensure that no adverse 

effects occur during silo demolition.

The USGS provides technical support to 

Restoration Advisory Boards that deal with 

local concerns in southwestern South 

Dakota relating to an abandoned U.S. Army 

ordnance depot near Igloo and potential contaminants on the former Badlands Bombing 

Range. The USACE oversees investigation 

of buried chemical and explosive ordnance 

at the Igloo site, which is frequently proposed as a waste-disposal site.

National Water-Quality 

Assessment Program

The goals of the National Water-Quality 

Assessment (NAWQA) Program are to 

describe the status and trends of a large, 

representative part of the Nation’s surfaceand ground-water resources and to identify 

the natural and human factors that affect 

the quality of these resources. The Cheyenne/Belle Fourche River Basin is identified as one of the 60 NAWQA Program 

study units.

A nationwide synthesis of volatile 

organic compounds (VOC’s) is being performed by USGS in South Dakota as part 

of the NAWQA Program. The VOC synthesis is intended to describe current waterquality conditions, define trends or lack of 

trends, and identify, describe, and explain 

relations among the occurrence and distribution of VOC’s in ground and surface 

waters. 

The VOC team has published two 

reports on the occurrence and distribution 

of the fuel oxygenate methyl tert-butyl 

ether (MTBE) in ground water. MTBE is a 

VOC derived primarily from natural gas 

that is added to gasoline to increase the 

octane level and to reduce carbon monoxide and ozone levels in the air. Currently, 

the USEPA tentatively classifies MTBE as 

a possible human carcinogen. The Office of 

Science and Technology Policy, Executive 

Office of the President, has begun an interagency assessment of the scientific basis 

and effectiveness of oxygenated-gasoline 

programs. The VOC team and other USGS 

staff are major participants in this effort.

USGS State representative

1608 Mt. View Road

Rapid City, SD 57702

(605) 394-1780

Fax: (605) 394-5373

Email: dc_sd@usgs.gov

Additional earth science

information can be found by

accessing the USGS Home Page

on the World Wide Web at

http://www.usgs.gov/

For more information on

all USGS reports and products

(including maps, images,

and computerized data), call

1-800-USA-MAPS

The USGS provides maps,

reports, and information to help

 others meet their needs to manage,

develop, and protect America’s water,

 energy, mineral, biological, and land

resources. We help find the natural

resources needed to build tomorrow

and supply the scientific understanding needed to help minimize or mitigate the effects of natural hazards

and environmental damage caused

by natural and human activities. The

results of our efforts touch the daily

life of almost every American.

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet FS-041-96

A B

Figure 5. Landsat Thematic Mapper images of the James River north of Redfield. A, Less-thannormal streamflow conditions, May 25, 1993. B, Peak flood conditions, May 15, 1995.