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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The State says the Big Sioux River watershed is impaired for high levels of bacteria and sediment.
Jesse Neyens with the Sioux Falls Environmental Division says that’s the focus of the Mayor’s Big Sioux River Water Summit on Thursday.
Neyens says the Big Sioux is critically important to Sioux Fall because that's where most of the city's drinking water comes from. He says the River is important for recreation, city parks line its shores and the city just completed the downtown River Greenway.
Neyens says the source of most river pollution comes from agriculture and urban runoff.
He says the Summit is open to the public to learn about the River's condition and what future plans there are to keep it healthy.