Mitchell, South Dakota

To help remedy the lake’s algae issues, a local grassroots organization under the name “Friends of the Firesteel” (named after the watershed area) has banded together to raise the funds needed to dredge the lake. That will remove the soft sediment from the bottom of the lake, which should significantly reduce the amount of times the city would have to ban recreational activities on the lake. There is a substantial population that lives along the lake, but about 70 percent of the lakeshore property around the lake is owned by the city. That includes lots of beaches, open space, and public access points, so those who don’t live on the lake have access to it. Obviously, when Mitchell Lake is unusable, it effects many people across the city. That’s why the cleanup project is of utmost importance. To ensure they can get it done, the city has enlisted the help of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, US Fish and Wildlife, along with other state and federal agencies for state and federal funding and they are also working in co-operation with livestock producers upstream in the Firesteel. Additionally, other non-profit groups have stepped forward with direct and in-kind resources as well. This isn’t just a municipal project, it is going to encompass a lot of important partnerships and collaboration. The goal is to have the water cleanup achieved in the next five years, making Lake Mitchell another jewel in the city’s crown – much like the Corn Palace. “We are hoping to reduce the number of closures and hopefully not have any due to the algae bloom,” says Putnam. “We want to see more fish and wildlife and have more recreational use and increased property values for the private property around the lake. We are also looking at various amenities as the lake water improves. And we won’t stop there. In five years, we want to make sure that we are the leader in water quality cleanup, lake cleanup efforts, rivers and streams – to show the state that we know how to do it. We want to have that kind of total commitment to water quality, cleanup, and conservation efforts.” MI TCHELL , SOUTH DAKOTA