Environment

Native Americans from South Dakota are leading the effort to educate the public about water conservation, land restoration and clean accessible water. Grass roots Lakota tribal members are holding a three-day water summit on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.

Candace Ducheneaux is the water summit spokesperson. She says their goal, is to gain solidarity among the world’s indigenous populations in combating the world water crisis and the impacts of climate change.

South Dakota Public Utilities Commission chairman Gary Hanson says the world needs to transition to renewable energy but, because the industry and economy of fossil fuels is so huge and existing technology is limited, change won't come abruptly.  He visited with SDPB news reporter Victoria Wicks.

Julie Hoffman of East River Nursery in Huron joins Dakota Midday for the semi-regular gardening segment. After a cold and snowy April, gardeners are finally able to start digging in the dirt.

The season of spring comes with notions of new green plants peeking through the soil and warm sunshine. South Dakota’s first full month of spring this year was far from that picturesque mirage. The snowy weather and cold temperatures in some places were unprecedented. April offered some standout statistics, and some other weather elements that seem extreme but are really just average.

April showers bring May flowers, but what do April ice and wind and snow storms bring? According to weather experts, all-time records. Let’s start in Rapid City.

Darren Clabo, state fire meteorologist, discusses the current fire weather conditions and the potential for the coming months. April, May, June and July are typically the region's wettest months, when the area receives 50 percent of its annual average of 21 inches precipitation. Although an improvement in drought conditions is predicted, Clabo is less than optimistic about the possibility of any significant drought relief.

Pennington County Master Gardener Joe Hillberry joins the program. After last week's last blast of winter it looks like spring has finally arrived and people can start work in their gardens and yards.

More snow is slowing the cleanup effort in Sioux Falls since a vicious ice storm and inches of snow broke thousands of trees. The city declared a state of emergency and is using public and private resources in the recovery effort.

Sioux Falls Public Works Director Mark Cotter says the governor is making some state resources available, including the Bear Mountain Hand Crew. It’s made up of trained saw teams out of Custer.

Norm Evers of Norm's Greenhouse and Nursery in Aurora talked about getting lawns and gardens ready for spring.  He also discussed damage to trees during last week's ice and snow storm.

Sioux Falls has already closed schools for the rest of the week. Partners in Sioux Falls’ Emergency Operations Center say now is the most dangerous part of this spring’s extreme winter weather.

Sioux Falls Fire Rescue Chief Jim Sideras says he’s concerned people are going to rush cleanup despite heavy snow, slick ice and fierce wind gusts.

Sioux Falls residents are battling winds and nearly six inches of snow on top of a thick coating of ice. The brutal round of winter weather in April prompted the mayor of the state's largest city to declare a state of emergency.

City plows focus on emergency snow routes Thursday morning. More than 100 crews worked overnight as a majority of the snow fell to keep the most-traveled streets clear. The Sioux Falls area anticipates another inch or two of snow through Thursday noon.