While lower rainfall is a problem for many this summer, it’s actually a boon to water quality in the Big Sioux River.
That’s according to a new report by Friends of the Big Sioux River, a nonprofit that works to conserve and protect the watershed.
Travis Entenman, the group’s managing director, said less rain means less storm water runoff, which carries excess nutrients into the river.
"What happens on land directly impacts our water, so by paying close attention to what we’re doing on our fields, our streets and our own backyard, we can have a direct impact on water quality," he said.
Friends of the Big Sioux River have been advocating for buffer strips along the river to help water quality.
Buffer strips are an area of permanent vegetation along the river that slows runoff and prevents excess nutrients from entering the river.