WATER RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT OR RESTORATION PROJECT 10-DAY PUBLIC NOTICE
WATER RESOURCE ENHANCEMENT OR RESTORATION PROJECT 10-DAY PUBLIC NOTICE
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) has received an application for a Water Resource Enhancement or Restoration Project approval, pursuant to Administrative Rules of South Dakota 74:51:01:60. The Upper Minnesota River Watershed District is proposing to restore 9,000 feet of the historic Whetstone River channel from near Big Stone City, South Dakota, downstream to the confluence with the Minnesota River in Minnesota. This project will reestablish the downstream floodplain and floodplain wetlands along the historic Whetstone River channel. The proposed project will improve the ecological integrity of the historic Whetstone River channel, and the water quality of and flooding on Big Stone Lake. The DANR review of this proposed project will only consider work proposed within the South Dakota state boundary.
The goal of the proposed project is to restore ecological services by reestablishing perennial flow to an estimated 9,000 feet of open channel within the historic Whetstone River channel. The portions of the historic Whetstone River channel being restored are generally located downstream of the Big Stone Dam and upstream of the U.S. Highway 75 dam, within western Minnesota. The hydrologic regime within these portions of the Minnesota and Whetstone rivers became substantially altered when the Whetstone River was diverted into Big Stone Lake in the mid-1930s. The proposed project diverts a portion of the water flow from the Whetstone River entering Big Stone Lake into a segment of the historic Whetstone River channel, downstream of the lake. The historic channel connects downstream to the Minnesota River.
The project will begin in the summer or fall of 2026 and is anticipated to last through winter 2029. The South Dakota portion of this project is located primarily in Section 17, Township 121 North, Range 46 West, Grant County, South Dakota (45.286554, -96.45596).
Written comments regarding this proposed project must be received by the department on or before March 21, 2026. Questions and/or written comments concerning this project should be directed to: Water Quality at DANRmail@state.sd.us. Written comments may also be mailed to the following address: SD DANR WQ, 523 E Capitol, Pierre, SD 57501, or provided using the online comment form, accessible via the “Comment Deadline” link provided at https://danr.sd.gov/public/ default.aspx. Additional project information, including the application, is available at this link. If no objections are received within the specified 10-day period, the Secretary will issue a project approval letter on or after March 23, 2026. The applicant is financially responsible for the publication of this public notice.
Secretary Hunter Roberts
