Case Study: South Dakota DENR develops defensible water level models with Aquatic Informatics AQUARIUS

South Dakota DENR Develops Easy & Defensible Rating Curves

The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) faced a challenge in evaluating a proposed lake management plan. They needed to model the long-term hydrological impact of allowing river water into a lake to raise its level for recreation, as they were concerned it would negatively affect water quality. Using the AQUARIUS Time-Series software from vendor Aquatic Informatics, an environmental scientist sought to create a legally defensible model to inform the state board's decision.

The solution involved using Aquatic Informatics' Empirical Modeler tool to correlate a short-term, two-year data set with a 30-year USGS record, creating a model that extrapolated the potential effects. The software's ease of use allowed a novice user to develop the working model in just two days. The clear visualizations and defensible results demonstrated that the proposed plan would have minimal positive effect on water levels, leading the board to deny the request and protect the long-term health of the lake.

South Dakota DENR

Sean Kruger

South Dakota DENR