Spearditch Republican concerned about poisoned waterways

Back in 2010 veteran journalist Kevin Woster shared his understanding of how anthropogenic activity affects the ecology of South Dakota when lotic science took him wading right out into the middle of Spearditch Creek. It provoked a fascinating exchange among real scientists at his now-deleted Take it Outside blog about the effects of the sediment propagated by stream disturbances on wildlife and geology. 

This blog has covered waterway impairment in South Dakota ever since watching contamination from mining, industrial agriculture and livestock pollution steadily worsen across the entire state in nearly every stream and lake. Because of ag chemicals South Dakota led the US in breast cancer rates in 2016 now Iowa has taken the lead in that infamous development.

To add insult to infamy South Dakota's current Republican governor merged the state's Department of Agriculture with Environment and Natural Resources in 2021 eliminating the word environment because she hates the Earth. Even the US Environmental Protection Agency is frustrated with South Dakota's lackadaisical response to and even the combative rejection of Waters of the United States or WOTUS.

So, a couple weeks ago State Representative Scott Odenbach (R-Spearditch) shared several graphics at his Faceberg page from the state's 2022 report of impaired waterways in South Dakota with concerns that Spearditch Creek might look like the Big Sioux River one day. With a hundred or more septic systems and acid mine drainage in that watershed leaching into the creek that scenario is not impossible.

Researchers at the South Dakota School of Mines already know most, if not all, the mercury in the state's lakes has precipitated from emissions released from coal fired power plants in North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming. 

Now, the crippled agency that monitors over 97,500 miles of waterways and 213,000 acres of lakes and reservoirs in South Dakota has released its 2024 report as required under the federal Clean Water Act.

The report also covers the state’s 577 lakes and reservoirs, of which 180 have been assessed. Eighty percent of tested lakes were too polluted to support all of their assigned beneficial uses, and the report primarily blames mercury detected in fish. Agriculture also contributes to lake pollution, according to the report: “These lakes have sizeable watersheds of nutrient-rich glacial soils that are extensively developed for agriculture. Runoff carrying sediment and nutrients from agricultural land is the most significant source of nonpoint pollution.” The EPA praised the state for finishing the report but suggested making the data easier to understand. [80% of tested surface water in South Dakota fails to meet state standards]

Because of the failures of South Dakota's Republican governors and legislature to control pollution some $172 million has been set aside for pipelines and drinking water improvements including in this interested party’s home town of Elkton where dairies and nitrates have ruined wells.

The 2022 EPA Toxics Release Inventory for South Dakota linked here.