FLOOD01312

• County: Statewide
• Title: Multi-Objective Flood Mitigation Plan for Vermillion River Basin-South Dakota
• Date: 1/1/1994
• Prepared For: South Dakota
• Prepared By: FEMA
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Flood Mitigation/Flood Warning/Watershed Restoration

FISH AND WILDLIFE

POPULATIONS AND

HABITATS

I:<..:TnonVCTI(IN
Without healthy, sustainable habitats, the
wide variety of fish and wildlife native to the
Vermillion Basin cannot survive. Many peo-
ple have never stopped to realize that riparian
areas {those along the edges of rivers and
streams} and wetlands are needed to provide
birds and wild animals with food. water, and
natural protection, especially for breeding.

ISSUE I

MINIMAL LANDOWNER PAR-
TICIPATION IN SUSTAINING
WILDLIFE AND ITS HABITAT

Informed landowners can implement
best management practices and use exist-
ing programs to provide sustainable habitats
for wildlife. At the same time they will be
minimizing flood damage downstream by
providing (or the retention and slow rdease
of water in the middle and upper
Vermillion Basin.

POTENTIAl. SOI.UTION I-A
Make bettfT use of public education programs,
information bulletins, arti<tes. tekvision and
radio spots, and community meetings. (This
action would aoo address Lack of Community

TEAM 3

VtSion in Flood-damaged Areas; see Solution 4-
B. page 25. It would address Growing Demand
for Open Space and Recreation; see Solution 1-
A. page 31. It would address Lack of a Basin-
wide Approach {HId Sense of Public
Responsibility for Water Quality and Erosion;
see St,,/utiotl 5-c' page 41.]
County Conservation Districts could
lead a continuous effort to implement
this solution, along with assistance from
the S.D. Department of Game, Fish and
Parks, private groups like Ducks Unlimited.
county conservation districts, the Cooper-
ative Extension Service, Future Farmers of

"1 fhllll.: lI'e I*CI/ get illlo lilt' qdt' 4
for~CltillR IIhow Ihc lI'clh",ds lllld
.. .
pmirit's lI11d we iIlSIII'IIJJt 10 gt.t ill IHIII
daclop or.fimll tllllt land llll/i SI.t il/lo
Ihe pnldll(C, prodl/ct', product' lIlode. . .
\\'l' might Ill' prodl/cillg {'III it lIIiglll
lIot be (()Sh:ai.YIIL'C. . .. Wt'llmltis Illld
prairies obl'iously lidp will'.I1otJd ((1/1-
trol. Thl')' slow tilt' lI'alas dOIl'I/, They
take II lot 4/11t' scdi/JIt'1It 01/1. TI1c)'
pnn'ide habitat."

.

America, and the Agricultural Stabilization
and Conservation Service.
Funding may be available from the S.D.
Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

I SS U E 2

lOSS OF HABITAT FOR
WilDLIFE

South Dakota has lost 35.45% of its origi.
nal wetlands., and many of them were
located in the Vermillion River Basin.
Riparian areas and native grasslands were also
convt::rted to agricultural uses. When riparian
vegetation is removed, insect populations
decline, depriving fish of food. and summer
water temperatures can go up because of lack
of shade. which endangers some types of fish.

POTF.NTIAl. SOl UTIO:-< l-A
Use water retention areas ill the upf'tT and
middle sections of the watershed for wildlife
habitat. Protect existing wetlands. restore or
create on-farm wetlands. encourage retention of
grasslands as permanent pasrure or native
prairie. and restore or crt'are on-farm upland
habitat, {This acrion would also address
Flooding in the Vermillion River valley; see
Solution 2.C, page 16. It would address