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South Dakota Conservation Projects

	MULTI-PURPOSE CONSERVATION BENEFITS MANY Just as most of Wildlife Forever’s projects are designed for many different types of wildlife, some projects also benefit various groups of people at the same time. A riparian restoration project in eastern South Dakota is an excellent example of multi-purpose conservation. By restoring a 2-mile riparian corridor along Deer Creek, Wildlife Forever and the Wildlife Conservation Club of South Dakota State University have created a fishery that has multiple uses. The fishery serves as a facility to introduce children to the sport of fishing, as an eco-laboratory for SDSU students, as an outdoor classroom for local elementary students, and as a demonstration model for using applied research to create a sustainable, high-quality fishery. the restoration constructed a series of beaver-pond wetlands in the upper riparian zone and a 20-acre body of water in the lower riparian zone of this damaged watershed. In addition, buffer zones were created by establishing 45 acres of native grasslands, planting 5,000 trees, and conducting controlled burns. The fishery has been stocked with smallmouth bass and golden shiners.
	PRIVATE STEWARDSHIP PROVIDES PROTECTION FOR 900 ACRES More than 900 acres in South Dakota’s Black Hills region recently became public property. The land was saved from potential resort development and now becomes key wildlife habitat and a favorite destination for hunters, hikers, and campers. The land was listed as a high-priority acquisition by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks. Thanks to financial support from Wildlife Forever, the land was purchased and the public has more land to enjoy. Among the wildlife that are benefiting from this purchase include wild turkeys, white-tailed deer, mule deer, neotropical migratory songbirds and other species.
	DEER CREEK RESTORATION Your support was used to restore a 2-mile corridor along Deer Creek in eastern South Dakota. Working with the Wildlife Conservation Club of South Dakota State University, this wildlife Forever project created a fishery in an ecologically restored watershed that has multiple uses. High among these uses is children’s outdoor education. The fishery serves as a facility to introduce children and the disabled to the sport of fishing, as a “hands on” eco-laboratory for both college and high school students and as a demonstration model for using applied research to create a sustainable, high-quality fishery. Along with the 20-acre body of water that was created, 45 acres of buffer using native grasses was produced and 5,000 trees were planted. These efforts plus a 30-acre controlled burn improved soil health, reducing runoff and erosion.