The South Dakota Water Resources Institute Records consist of departmental publications, reports, administrative materials, and collected research related to water quality, irrigation, and resource management. Materials include annual reports, operating budget documentation, informational pamphlets, and photographic records. A significant portion of the collection pertains to the Missouri River Basin Project, encompassing a wide range of technical reports, feasibility studies, environmental impact statements, and planning documents. These reports address critical issues such as irrigation development, water quality standards, aquifer management, flood control, channel degradation, hydrology, and the economic and environmental implications of water resource use.

This collection documents the Institute’s role in advancing water research and policy in South Dakota and the broader Missouri River Basin region. The records reflect federal-state collaboration under programs like the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program and include contributions to state and national discussions on sustainable water use, agricultural irrigation, and environmental protection. The depth and breadth of the Missouri River Basin Project materials provide valuable insights into mid- to late-20th century water management initiatives and the scientific, economic, and political challenges surrounding them. Researchers interested in water resource development, environmental policy, agricultural engineering, and regional planning will find the collection especially valuable.

This collection documents the activities of the Water and Environmental Engineering Research Center and affiliated academic and research programs, including the Atmospheric, Environmental, and Water Resources (AEWR) Ph.D. program, collaborative research projects, and the Huron Recharge Project. The AEWR program was a joint doctoral program between South Dakota State University and the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, established in the early 1990s and phased out in 2004. Materials include program proposals, correspondence, assessment documents, course and promotional materials, and reports related to program development, accreditation, and inter-university collaboration.

The research project files span a variety of topics related to water resources engineering, such as groundwater recharge, wastewater management, water quality monitoring, and bridge infrastructure. The Huron Recharge Project records include agreements, water testing data, progress reports, technical memoranda, and regulatory documents reflecting groundwater recharge efforts and interagency cooperation in Huron, South Dakota.

The records reflect SDSU’s contributions to water resource engineering education and applied research in the Northern Great Plains and beyond. The collection highlights regional, national, and collaborative initiatives in water management, infrastructure design, and environmental engineering. The AEWR Ph.D. program exemplifies inter-institutional efforts to address critical water and environmental challenges through advanced education and research. The Huron Recharge Project provides valuable insight into groundwater recharge methodologies and local water quality monitoring in South Dakota.

by State Lakes Preservation Committee, State of South Dakota and the Old West Regional Commission, no publication place; 268 pages; includes maps in pocket

Includes: 1) correspondence, legal papers, clippings, agendas, etc.; and 2) Fens Near South Slough Lake in Deuel County, South Dakota and Addendum No. 1; by Thompson Engineering Company, Coleman, South Dakota; 1994 and 1995;

Includes:
1) correspondence, clippings, maps, etc.
2) Water Resources of Deuel and Hamlin Counties, South Dakota, US Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 84-4069: undated; by Jack Kume, 15 pages
3) Lake and Watershed Assessment of Lake Cochrane and Lake Oliver Deuel County, South Dakota [draft]: 1998 June 1; South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Pierre, South Dakota; unpaginated.

part 2; includes: 1) correspondence, legal materials, testimony, clippings, technical materials, maps, agendas, etc.; and 2) Request to Establish an Outlet Elevation for Lake Oliver Deuel County, South Dakota, 1995 June 6; multiple paginations with multiple addenda

part 1; includes: 1) correspondence, updates, notes, clippings, etc.; and 2) Scope of EIS / Environmental Impact Statement for Burr Well Field; by Thompson Engineering Company, Coleman, South Dakota; 1995 and 1996