Prairie Coteau Watershed Improvement and Protection Project

08/20/2026

Are you a livestock producer interested in virtual fence and how it can fit into your operation? Checkout the virtual fence collar lease program through one of our close partners South Dakota Soil Health Coalition

A great way to "test drive" if this practice would be a good fit to your operation!

SDSHC is helping producers adopt regenerative grazing practices through the use of virtual fence collars! Learn more at https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/cattle-producers-try-out-virtual-fencing/

07/24/2026

2026 Lake and Stream Ecology and Water Quality Workshop is in the books!

The watershed project hosted a professional development for educators, public outreach, and natural resource management personnel this week where they learned a variety of topics and educational activities regarding lake and stream ecology and water quality.

Thank you to our host location NeSoDak Bible Camp and our instructors this week!

07/17/2026

Check out this before and after of a buffer project utilizing both the watershed project's Riparian Area Management (RAM) and South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Riparian Buffer Initiative (RBI) programs!

Located along the South Fork Whetstone River in Grant County, the buffer will help improve water quality by capturing nutrients, sediment, stabilize the streambank, along with improved wildlife and pollinator habitat. The landowner also benefits by taking less productive acres out of crop production, increasing Actual Production History (APH) yields and providing financial incentives in return.

Thanks again to our partner Grant County Conservation District with the assistance of seeding this project last year!

For more information, contact the Prairie Coteau Watershed with a message or phone call and we'd be happy to assist you with your next project.

07/13/2026

Here is a great write up about the Riparian Buffer Initiative (RBI) Program, sponsored by one of our major partners, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The watershed project partners with SD DANR on many of these RBI projects with producers to provide conservation technical and financial assistance through the project area to improve and protect water quality.

How fitting to read this article as project personnel finished flagging out a new RBI project this morning!

To read the article, follow the link in the comments.

06/26/2026

One of the Best Management Practices (BMPs) the project provides technical and financial assistance with is grazing systems. This can involve cross fence, livestock water development, range and pasture plantings. These practices help improve grazing and overall health for livestock, while improving and protecting water quality.

Doing a follow up to see how this range seeding is coming in and its turning out great! This project invovled range seeding, cross fence, livestock water with a solar pump, well and tank, and excluding livestock from the stream to one of our project lakes.

For more information regarding technical and financial assistance or other questions, feel free to shoot the watershed project a message and we would be glad to assist!

06/18/2026

Another Riparian Tree Buffer project with a local landowner, with assistance of our partner, Grant County Conservation District. This project will help improve and protect the riparian area and water quality for years to come!

The partnerships of our local conservation districts make these projects possible!

06/16/2026

The watershed project is out collecting water samples on Pickerel Lake, one of our project watersheds and lakes, today. The project works with local partners like the Pickerel Lake Conservancy to conduct water quality monitoring to determine water quality trends and the overall health of our lakes. Some of our partnerships have led to having 30+ years of water quality data! We are thankful for our local partners and volunteers that make this possible!

06/12/2026

What a busy spring it has been for the watershed project!

Began water quality monitoring on one the lakes within the Prairie Coteau Watershed Project area 🌊

Provided outreach to almost 2,000 students in the project area📝

In the field implementing best management practices (BMPs) with our fellow partners, improving and protecting water quality on lakes and streams in the watershed project 🌳

The spring season for the Prairie Coteau Watershed Project is the busiest time of the year. Watershed project staff are back in the office on a more regular basis. If you are needing to contact the watershed project, you can call the office at 605.345.4661 ext. 118 or visit us at https://www.pcwatersheds.org