Chairman Randy Stanley of Groton announced that the James River Water Development District (JRWDD) awarded $135,571 in cost-sharing assistance at their recent Board of Directors meeting held in Huron on Tuesday, Nov. 13.
The District entered into a joint funding agreement in the amount of $21,300 with the United States Geological Survey for operation and maintenance of three streamflow gaging stations on the James River near Stratford, Redfield and Yankton. These funds will provide quality hydrologic data in a timely and professional manner. The funds will be matched by US Geological Survey and the City of Huron (Redfield Gage only).
The District awarded $61,750 to the Conservation Districts within the JRWDD for 2013 tree planting efforts.  Each of the nine full counties within the JRWDD will receive $6,500 (Beadle, Brown, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Marshall, Sanborn, Spink and Yankton.  Aurora County which is shared with South Central Water Development District will receive $3,250.   These funds will encourage producers to plant trees to improve the environment, for example; by protecting the soil, improving water quality and to establish wildlife habitat.
The District awarded $12,320 to a landowner in Hutchinson County, approximately six miles west of Olivet, to repair an existing breached dam on Lone Tree Creek in the James River Watershed.  These funds will improve water quality by reducing sedimentation based pollutants from entering the Lone Tree Creek drainage system. These funds will be matched by the landowner.
The District also awarded $5,407 to a landowner in Molan Township in Hutchinson County to rebuild and reconstruct an earth dam. These funds will improve water quality by preventing silt and other runoff from entering the James River.   These funds will be matched by the landowner.
The District awarded Sanborn County $9,794 to make drainage improvements in Letcher Township within Sanborn County by installing tiling north of Letcher. These funds are contingent upon approval of additional funds from Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The improvements are designed to improve the flow of surface water more efficiently toward the James River. These funds will help prevent water from blocking access to the Town of Letcher and prevent water stagnation.
The District awarded Brown County Mud Creek Watershed District $25,000 for surveying Mud Creek from the Spink County line north to determine where there may be areas that are impeding the flow of the creek. This surveying is the first step in a general improvement plan on Mud Creek.
For more information or photos on any of the projects or for further information, contact the James River Water Development District office in Huron at 352-0600 or visit the Web site at www.jrwdd.com.