This article was written by a Jefferson High School student in Melissa Hittner’s 2023-2024 AP Environmental Science class and edited by Friends of the Big Sioux River staff.

I am a provider and a connector, serving as a lifeline for the ecosystem around me. As the Big Sioux River, I give wildlife a home and serve as a way of travel for the multitudes of tributaries that flow to and from me to the Missouri River and even farther down to the Gulf of Mexico. That is not the only way I move around, though. I also provide for my surroundings, allowing nearby soil and plants to uptake water from my streams. It has been a reciprocal cycle of giving and receiving.

One of the other roles I cherish most is my services of recreational usage for the humans who venture to see me. They used to use my passageways for swimming and boating, and I took pride in the smiles I brought to their faces. They enjoyed taking in my surrounding beauty of lush green grassy shores full of blooming wildflowers and sturdy, resilient trees. I brought beauty and joy to the humans that once recreated in and along my waters.

That's right, once loved to see. The humans no longer visit me as they once did; they've become scarce in visits. Families no longer visit me on warm summer days. Small children no longer splash in my waters without a care in the world. Instead, I am now visited by humans with stern faces. I've overheard what they say to one another about my waters. I've gotten sick, they say. I have too many pollutants in me. They talk a lot about how E. coli isn't safe for humans.  It can cause them to become sick, especially those with weak immune systems who could become seriously ill. I never intended to cause any harm to these humans. I only wish to provide a safe place of enjoyment. Yet, I cannot ignore the consistent unsafe changes in my levels of E. coli. They've reached unsafe numbers countless times. My health must improve if I want humans to return safely to my waters.

To bring back the delight people once found in me, we must understand what caused me to turn into what I am now. My once clear waters have turned murky, emitting the occasional pungent odor. The humans who once cherished me have now polluted me. Industries dump contaminants into my waters, and urban and agricultural runoff flows into my streams during rain and snowmelt events. These two cases are examples of point source and nonpoint source pollution. A point source pollutant, such as a factory, has one single point of origin. It is easy to identify, monitor, and regulate its outputs. Nonpoint source pollutants do not have a single point of origin. These sources come from urban or agricultural runoff, picking up contaminants, such as fertilizer, chemicals, litter, pet waste, or soil as they travel to my waterways. These pollutants disrupt my ecosystem balance, making it difficult to remain healthy and vibrant.

To tackle these pollutants together, we have to stop them from entering my waterways. One solution is to plant more vegetation around my streams to act as buffer strips. These strips would work as a natural filtration system, allowing water to flow through their roots, thereby slowing down water flow and capturing any sediments and pollutants in the runoff. Buffer strips would also help keep the soil surrounding me more stable, reducing erosion and minimizing sediments flowing into my streams. Not only do buffer strips provide benefits for keeping my waters clean, but they also make my looks more visually appealing. My shores would once again be teeming with wildflowers and tall prairie grasses that invite in important pollinators, birds, and wildlife.

In addition to planting riparian buffer strips, we also need to reduce the litter lining my shores and waterways. Having trash in my waters causes me to look unclean, and the humans avoid spending time with me. If you see litter along my banks, please pick it up. And make sure to pick up after your pets as well. In urban areas, dog waste is a leading contributor to pollution in waterways.

Industries should also be more cautious of what they dump into my waters, as it hurts life around and within me. What food manufacturing and livestock industries dispose of can negatively impact my health, as the water they expel could be contaminated with E. coli, nitrates, or ammonia. Before dumping their wastewater, they must ensure it undergoes treatment to destroy any harmful bacteria, such as E. coli, before releasing them into my waters. Implementing measures to keep their wastewater clean will help me protect my water.

All I ask of you is to be aware of your surroundings; this is a shared world we live in. Together, we must provide for one another, just as I, the Big Sioux River, provide food and shelter for the wildlife that call my waters and banks home. The humans do not need to be fearful of me. Let them come back and find enjoyment in my waters. Let them fish, recreate, swim, and frolic in my streams. Let them find joy, beauty, adventure, and peace in nature. I am just one of many beautiful, resilient rivers in the world, and we rely on you for our protection and restoration.