The Fate of the Arikaras

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Bad Humor Island in South Dakota

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Lake Francis Case in South Dakota

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Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex in South Dakota

The Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex is headquartered at Lake Andes, South Dakota, located a little to the east of the Missouri River and maybe ten miles north of the state's border with Nebraska. The complex comprises two separate refuges, the Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge and the Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge.

Lake Andes is a natural, shallow prairie lake that is fed by underground springs, and once every twenty years (approximately) the lake dries up. Sioux Indians frequently made camp at the lake while pursuing migrating herds of buffalo and flocks of waterfowl. Two dikes separate the lake into three sections, allowing better water retention during the dry summers.

Wildlife observation, hunting, and fishing are the major attractions at the Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge during wet years. Over one hundred species of birds nest at the refuge, including bald eagles, ring-necked pheasant, northern pintail, ducks and geese. Various mammal species are commonly found at the refuge, including white-tailed deer, coyote, muskrat and badger.

The Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge has the largest concentration of Bald eagles in the lower 48 states, with over 200 eagles often spending the winter there. The refuge is closed to the public, but bird watching is available from the Ft. Randall Dam. A kiosk at the dam provides information on optimal times and locations for viewing various species.

To obtain more information from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex
38672 291st Street
Lake Andes, South Dakota 57356
(605) 487-7603

To find more things to do and places to stay in South Dakota
The Lewis and Clark Trail Today: On to the Grasslands

The Missouri National Recreational River

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Farm Island Recreation Area

This blog entry shows a series of photos taken on a kayak trip through the interior of the Farm Island Recreation Area, located just east of Pierre, South Dakota.

Click on the photos to see them at full resolution.

And the river shall rise

This Monday at noon the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released extra water into the Missouri River at Gavins Point Dam, near the Nebraska-South Dakota border. The motivation for this project is to help preserve the pallid sturgeon, which is on the endangered species list. The “spring pulse” is meant to replicate what once was a natural occurrence when melting snow caused a heavy flow of water downstream.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has called on the agency to discontinue the operation, due to flooding conditions. Missouri Farm Bureau President Charles E. Kruse adds: “This is yet another example of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Corps ignoring common sense and placing landowners at increased risk as they attempt to justify the millions of dollars being spent on new Missouri River management practices.”

The Gavins Point Dam is the most downstream dam on the Missouri, and impounds the Lewis and Clark Lake near Yankton, South Dakota.

Activities held across S.D. for National Trails Day

South Dakota State Parks will host Walk in the Park events across the state from June 5 through June 8 in honor of the American Hiking Society's 17th annual "National Trails Day".

Scheduled events include a "Bird ID Walk" at the Lewis and Clark Recreation Area near Yankton, SD, starting at 7:30 p.m. on June 5. Participants will walk and talk with naturalists as they seek and identify common birds found in the vicinity.

Kickoff Event for the Missouri River Water Trail

A water trail paddle, sponsored by Missouri River Expeditions of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is scheduled for Saturday, June 6. The paddle will showcase the development of the Missouri River Water Trail. The first 24 registered participants can participate for $20, and those bringing their own kayaks or canoes can join for free.