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Research about South Dakota

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including South Dakota.

At least 343 records · Page 19Linked to original sources
USGS1976

Machine-assisted analysis of Landsat data in the study of crop-soils relationships

To date, relatively few studies have dealt with crop-soil interactions as they affect the appearance of agricultural areas on Landsat imagery, and hence crop and soil classification or the analysis of agricultural land use. The Image 100, a computer-based data analysis system which allows an interpreter to interact directly and rapidly with Landsat computer compatible tape data, provided a tool to assist in the evaluation of the extent and significance of these interactions. Used with timely and accurate ground data, the system made possible a determination of the variability in crop spectral appearance, from soil type to soil type, as recorded on Landsat data. Information was provided in the form of spectral distribution histrograms for each crop-soil class on each Landsat band. Several crop categories in a test area in rookings County, South Dakota, were classified using training fields that were selected to be representative of each major crop-soil class. Accuracies in each case, on a total acreage basis, were greater than 90 percent.

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USGS1975

Test drilling at Soldier Creek, Rosebud Indian Reservation, Todd County, South Dakota

Thirty-six test holes were augered by the U.S. Geological Survey in the vicinity of Sol,,r Creek, Rosebud Indian Reservation, Todd County, South Dakota. Wells prcducing more than S gallons per minute (0.32 litre per second) from the Tertiary deposits are rare. However, as much as 20 feet (6.1 metres) of permeable alluvial deposits were penetrated in several test holes. One test ell was pumped for hours at a rate of 10 gallons per minute (0.63 litre per second).

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USGS1975

The Black Hills-Rapid City flood of June 9-10, 1972: A description of the storm and flood

On June 9, 1972, an almost stationary group of thunderstorms formed over the eastern Black Hills of South Dakota near Rapid City and produced record amounts of rainfall and flood discharges. Nearly 15 inches of rain fell in about 6 hours near Nemo, S. Dak., and more than 10 inches of rain fell over a 60-square-mile area. The resulting floods were the highest ever recorded in South Dakota. At least 18 of the 27 streams where peak flows were computed experienced flows that exceeded the 50-year flood. At least 237 people died in the Black Hills flood and 8 people were still listed as missing 6 months after the flood. Another 3,057 people were injured, and total damage is estimated to have exceeded $160 million. As documented by radar and' satellite images and by radiosonde observations, as well as by much other weather data, the unusual and excessive rainfall was partly the result of a strong, low-level, easterly airflow that forced moist air upslope over the Black Hills. This sustained orographic effect helped the air to rise, cool, become very unstable, and release its moisture in repeating -thunderstorms. Another important contributing factor was the unusually light winds at higher levels. Those light winds did not disperse the moist air or move the thunderstorms along to prevent the extreme concentration of rainfall. Instead, these conditions allowed heavy rainfall to remain almost stationary along the eastern slopes of the Black Hills. Rainfall data from 24 observing stations and from over 200 miscellaneous sites show that all reported rains greater than 4 inches fell on the eastern slopes of the Black Hills. At least 6 inches of rain fell over a 300-square-mile area that lies primarily between 4,000 and 5,000 feet elevation. Almost all the flood peaks occurred between 2230 MDT on June 9 and 0100 MDT on June 10, 1972, in a flood belt about 40 miles long and 20 miles wide along the eastern slopes of the Black Hills. This belt extended from Sturgis, S. Dak., on the north to Hermosa, S. Dak., on the south, with Rapid City near the center. To document the flood, peak discharge determinations were made at 49 sites. Records show that about 13,000 acre-feet of water flowed through Rapid City during the 2 days of flooding. At one point during the night of June 9, the floodwaters rose about 3.5 feet in 15 minutes. Coming off the slopes of the Black Hills, the flood peak traveled the 22 miles between Deer Creek and Rapid City in about 3.5 hours.

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USGS1974

Upland duck nesting related to land use and predator reduction

Duck nesting was studied during 1971 in north-central South Dakota under four conditions: in idle, five or six year old fields of domestic grass-legume mixtures in an area where predators including the red fox ( Vulpes fulva ), raccoon ( Procyon lotor ), striped skunk ( Mephitis mephitis ), and badger ( Taxidea taxus ) were (1) reduced and (2) not reduced. Nesting was also studied in tracts of active agricultural land (primarily croplands and pastures) where predators were (3) reduced, and (4) not reduced. Under condition (1), 260 nests were found on 0.87 km 2 (299 nests/km 2 ), eggs hatched in 92 percent of the nests and production was 22.0 ducklings/hectare. Under condition (2), 187 nests were found on 2.22 km 2 (84 nests/km 2 ), nest success was 68 percent and 4.7 ducklings/hectare were produced. On active agricultural land subject to predator reduction (condition 3), 64 nests were found on 5.14 km 2 (12 nests/km 2 ). Eggs in 85 percent of the nests hatched and production was 0.7 duckling/hectare. On active agricultural land not subject to predator reduction (condition 4), 58 nests were found on 4.01 km 2 (14 nests/km 2 ), nest success was 51 percent and 0.5 duckling/hectare was produced. Idle, 16 to 65-hectare (40 to 160-acre) stands of cool-season, introduced grasses in combination with legumes produced maximum numbers of upland nesting ducks.

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USGS1974

Geohydrology of Crow Creek and Lower Brule Indian Reservations, South Dakota

Effective improvement of economic and social conditions of Indians living on Crow Creek and Lower Brule Reservations has been hampered by lack of adequate and reliable information about the quantity and quality of water supplies available for development. Compounding the problem, and making especially pressing the need for discovery and development of new water supplies, is the recent filling of Fort Randall and Big Bend Reservoirs on the Missouri River, and the consequent relocation of may residents. Much of the best land and known water supplies are inundated beneath the reservoirs. This report summarized the results of a water-resources study made at the request of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs.

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USGS1974

First EROS/AID International Course on remote sensing

The First International Training Course on Remote Sensing held at the Earth Resources Observations Systems (EROS) Data Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, was sponsored by the Agency for International Development (AID), U.S. Department of State, from June 4 to 27, 1973. This course was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under Participating Agency Services Agreement (PASA) TA (IC) 2-72, 931-11-995-902-72-3138905, as part of the AID program to provide training in remote sensing technology for earth scientists in the less developed countries.

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USGS1974

A method for estimating magnitude and frequency of floods in South Dakota

A general flood-frequency analysis has provided a method for estimating flood magnitudes and frequencies on South Dakota streams. Related flood data useful in planning and design also are included in the report. Two distinct hydrologic regions are delineated within the State. The divisional boundary for these regions is, in general, the western divide of the James River basin. For each region, the 2-, 5-, 10-, 25-, 50-, and 100-year floods are related to basin and climatic characteristics by regression equations. Indices based on contributing drainage area size, elevation, and mean annual precipitation were found to be the most useful variables in estimation of South Dakota floods. Regional relationships based on these variables can be used to estimate floods of selected frequency at most ungaged sites where peak flows are not significantly affected by regulation or other manmade works. Equations and graphs presented are applicable to drainage basins with areas approximately from 0.1 to 4,000 square miles (0.3 to 10,400 square kilometres) in the Eastern Region and from 0.1 to 9,000 square miles (0.3 to 23,300 square kilometres) in the Western Region. Limitations on use of these equations are given and the accuracy of resulting estimates is discussed. Flood characteristics are tabulated for 130 gaging stations having 10 or more years of record. These frequency data may provide the best estimates of floods at these gaged sites. Also, maximum flood peaks determined at 188 gaging stations and 52 miscellaneous sites are compared with regional flood relationships. Individual relationships are presented for the main-stem portions of selected streams where significant regulation is a factor or where drainage areas exceed the limits of applicability of the regional relationships.

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USGS1973

Flood of June 9-10, 1972, at Rapid City, South Dakota

Rapid City, the second largest city in South Dakota, is located at the eastern edge of the Black Hills about 9 miles downstream from Pactola Dam. It is bisected laterally by Rapid Creek, and longitudinally by the eastern flank of the Black Hills. Canyon Lake, a samll recreation reservior having a surface area of 35 to 40 acres, is located near the west city limits on Rapid Creek. The floods of June 9-10, 1972, covered a relatively small area of the eastern hills, extending from Sturgis on the north to Hermosa on the south and the west to Pactola Dam. THe area is mountainous with very steep heavily wooded slopes. Channels are shallow and generally are confined in narrow, winding canyons.

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