For Immediate Release: Tuesday, November 24, 2015

For More Information: Ron Duvall, 773-3352

DENR Announces New Lake Levels Map

PIERRE, S.D. – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has added a lake levels map to the department’s interactive database maps online at http://denr.sd.gov/datagis.aspx.

“Many people in South Dakota place a very high value on our lakes and lake shores, but water levels can have a dramatic effect on the use of the lake and whether shoreline development is at risk,” said DENR Secretary Steve Pirner. “To track trends in lake levels, DENR’s Water Rights Program collects water level data from 167 lakes twice a year. Working with the Bureau of Information and Telecommunications, DENR is now making this information available to everyone over the Internet using a new and improved interactive Geographic Information System (GIS) map. If you have a favorite lake or lakes and are interested in both historical and current water levels, you will like this map.”

The lake levels map is an updated version of a map previously available on the DENR website. The new map features spring and fall water level measurements for 167 lakes with elevation measurements dating back to the early 1980’s. Historical lake level measurements are available by locating a measured lake on an interactive map or by searching by name or county location. Measurements can be downloaded or a hydrograph can be displayed with the measurements plotted on a line graph for viewing online or printing.

The lake levels map also shows ordinary high and low water mark elevations and outlet elevations for lakes where those elevations have been set by the state Water Management Board.

This map is in addition to the department’s interactive maps for oil and gas, construction aggregate, spills, closed and active regulated storage tanks, recyclable materials, water right dry draw location notices and permitted solid waste facilities that have been available online. The maps show data from 1,900 files for oil and gas holes and geologic logs from 96,595 other holes; more than 4,600 active and closed construction aggregate mines across the state; more than 13,250 spill sites; about 5,000 closed and active regulated storage tanks; more than 150 locations that take recyclable materials; 97,620 filings for water right dry draw location notices; and 200 permitted solid waste facilities.

The interactive maps can be accessed from the department’s homepage at http://denr.sd.gov under “One-Stop Shops” and “Data & Mapping.”

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