(Pierre, SD) — The water quality is improving in South Dakota. But not by much. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources has released its annual water quality assessment report.
Not much has changed in the quality of lakes, streams and rivers in the past two years based on the numbers. The report shows that 78 percent of the more than six-thousand assessed stream miles do not support one or more beneficial uses based. Of the more than 171-thousand assessed lake acres, only 20 percent support assigned beneficial uses. Examples of a beneficial use are immersion recreation such as swimming or fishing. The availability is determined by test samples for impurities in the water.
