Economic Analyses of Land Pattern Changes of the Lower Bad River Basin of South Dakota

Title: Economic Analyses of Land Pattern Changes of the Lower Bad River Basin of South Dakota

In western South Dakota, the Bad River is the smallest of five major river basins. It originates in the Badlands near Wall, South Dakota, and flows to the east approximately 100 miles where it discharges into Lake Sharpe. The Bad River Watershed encompasses 3,173 square miles of Haakon, Jackson, Jones, Lyman, Pennington, and Stanley Counties. Because of the large sediment load and size of the drainage area, it can be categorized into two segments such as Lower Bad River Basin and the Upper Bad River Basin. Most of the discussion in this blog focuses on background information regarding Lower Bad River Basin.

The bad river watershed can be mainly categorized as Land and federal ownership. Among those, Land ownership is primarily private. And the Federal ownership is concentrated in the Ft. Pierre and Buffalo Gap National Grasslands and Badlands National Park.
Table 1. Bad River Watershed Land Ownership
Type of ownership Total amount of land Percentage
Private ownership 1,770,185 acres 87.2 %
Federal ownership 244271 acres 12.0%
State ownership 14230 acres 0.7%
Cheyenne River Tribe 11920 acres 0.1%
TOTAL 2,030,606 acres 100.0 %
Source: Section 319 non-point pollution control program watershed project final report

Private ownership has been the major source covering 87.2% of total bad river watershed land ownership. In this watershed, Land use pattern is mainly dominated by Livestock grazing. The remaining land is mainly used for tame hayland and cropland.
Table 2. Type of Land in the Bad River Watershed
Type of Land Amount percentage
Rangeland 1,330,560 acres 65.5 %
Cropland 692046 acres 34.0%
Water 6000 acres 0.4%
Other 2000 acres 0.1%
TOTAL 2,030,606 acres 100.0 %
Source: Section 319 non-point pollution control program watershed project final report
Range land coasted of 65.5% of total land is in the watershed area of lower Bad River of South Dakota. Also, Cropland covers a total of 34% land in the watershed area. Here, Winter wheat, grain sorghum, and alfalfa are considered as major crops. Oats, barley, millet and forage sorghum are also significant crops in the watershed. Bad River Ranch consists of approximately 150,000 acres while other farm and ranch size varies from 3,000 to 35,000 acres.

The Bad River enters the Missouri River within the city limits of Ft. Pierre, SD directly across the river from Pierre, SD. The Bad River has a notorious past due to its unpredictability of flow and the sediment it transports during runoff events. Soil erosion has also garnered special attention as evidenced by past federal farm programs. Land use is also affected by agricultural and conservation policies. In addition, these land-use changes affect environmental quality, particularly when affected lower-quality lands are environmentally sensitive. In the watershed area, land pattern changes are currently playing a substantial role.