What the Watershed Means to Me: Lake Kampeska

“Set the Hook” visual created by Jefferson High School Student

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.

In my piece “Set The Hook,” I created a visual representing my father and I’s bond that began with him teaching me how to fish and continues with our current fishing expeditions at the lake.

The last few summers, I have gone to Lake Kampeska with my friends and family. My ventures there have created many treasured memories that I will never forget, including swimming, fishing, tubing, relaxing by the lake, and golfing at the nearby courses. But the centerpiece of these trips for my family and others is always the lake. As Kampeska is one of the only lakes in the area that isn’t considered eutrophic, I want it to stay that way so families can continue to enjoy it for years to come.

As many of you may know, Lake Kampeska is located just outside of Watertown, making it part of the northern portion of the Big Sioux River watershed. This location is to its benefit, as the water that flows into Kampeska is cleaner than it would be for lakes farther south because it has less chance for pollutants to enter the river before it reaches the lake. However, that does not mean it is safe from all pollutants. One possible pollutant is fecal coliform. The manure on farm fields in the north may run off into the waterway and contaminate the river, triggering algal blooms and dangerous bacterial contamination.

I worry about this pollutant because it was a problem in a previous study on the lake in 1994. The study involved multiple testing sites of fecal coliform where its standard levels were exceeded on multiple counts. Since this pollutant could make the lake eutrophic, hurting water quality and biodiversity, it could potentially cause restrictions on fishing and swimming for human health. These restrictions would take away the opportunity for future families and friends to create the memories I have made with the lake.

But, to keep the lake as it is now, there are a few things we can do. One of the most important things we can do is monitor the banks of the Big Sioux River north of the lake and require vegetation along the bank, known as buffer strips. These vegetated areas prevent livestock from roaming in the river, filter manure in runoff from the field, reduce the amount of runoff, and prevent flooding. Another possible solution is to implement no-till agricultural practices. By not tilling up the land, farmers can reduce soil erosion, conserve soil moisture, and increase the amount of organic matter in the soil. Applying this strategy would add an additional layer of absorption and filtering before runoff reaches the river.

Implementing these strategies, along with other best management practices, would significantly reduce runoff and the amount of pollutants contaminating the river, ultimately contaminating the lakes. Doing so would allow future generations of family and friends to continue to enjoy the activities that Lake Kampeska provides, allowing them to create the memories that I have been able to and keep them and myself coming back.