The State of Our River
Confronting Contamination: Understanding PFAS in South Dakota’s Waterways
A Free Community Education Event
Saturday, December 7, 2024, 9:00-11:00 AM
Hamre Recital Hall (HUM 177), Humanities Center, Augustana University
2120 S Grange Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57197
Join Friends of the Big Sioux River on Saturday, December 7th, at Augustana University for a captivating morning of discussion about PFAS, commonly called Forever Chemicals, in South Dakota’s waterways. A short reception at 9:00 AM will feature booths from local water and conservation organizations, along with light refreshments.
The program will officially begin at 9:30 AM with a presentation of FBSR’s 2024 Big Sioux River water quality testing data. Following this update, Tim Stefanich will give his keynote presentation titled, Forever Chemicals 101: What Are PFAS? This thought-provoking presentation will provide an overview of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), their history, and the operational challenges involved in detecting and removing them.
A closer examination of PFAS in our region will be explored during Sammi Blood’s keynote presentation titled, PFAS in the Sioux Falls Region. Special focus will be placed on municipal and private well contamination at Joe Foss Field, where firefighting foam containing PFAS was used from the 1970s to 2018 by the Air National Guard. New EPA regulations surrounding PFAS in drinking water and the State’s plans for PFAS testing and removal will also be discussed.
A short audience Q&A session will follow the presentations. All community members are invited to attend this free event.
Thank you to the Office of Sustainability and the Environmental Studies Program at Augustana University for sponsoring this event.
Program Agenda
9:00 AM - Reception with light refreshments and booths featuring local water & conservation organizations
9:30 AM - Welcome
9:40 AM - The State of Our River: An Overview of the 2024 FBSR Water Quality Testing Data
10:05 AM - Keynote Presentation Forever Chemicals 101: What Are PFAS?, presented by Tim Stefanich
10:25 AM - Keynote Presentation: PFAS in the Sioux Falls Region, presented by Sammi Blood
10:50 AM - Audience Q&A and Program Wrap-Up
Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club Meetup
Join us for the next monthly meetup of the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club! This month, we’ll be meeting at The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD on Thursday, November 21st from 6-7:30 PM. Join us for a night of fly tying and community building. All supplies will be provided, and everyone is welcome to attend!
Meetup Details
The Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club is for anyone who wants to learn about or share their passion for fly fishing.
No registration is required.
Click here to learn more about the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club.
A partnership between Friends of the Big Sioux River and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus - Sioux Falls.
Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club Meetup
Join us for the next monthly meetup of the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club! This month, we’ll be meeting at The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls, SD on Thursday, October 24th from 6-7:30 PM. The first half of the meetup we’ll be in the classroom learning about Friends of the Big Sioux River. The second half of the event we’ll be fly fishing at The Outdoor Campus pond.
Meetup Details
The Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club is for anyone who wants to learn about or share their passion for fly fishing.
No registration is required.
You are encouraged to bring your own gear but some will be provided.
A South Dakota fishing license is required.
Click here to learn more about the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club.
A partnership between Friends of the Big Sioux River and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus - Sioux Falls.
Community Conversation II on Climate & Sustainability
Learn about the environment and sustainability in South Dakota including the Rosebud Lakota Tribal Environmental Program. Local projects will be presented with an opportunity to join grassroots efforts to make an impact for specific sustainability goals. Event is hosted by the Sioux Falls Sustainability Coalition.
Click here to RSVP.
2024 Eastern South Dakota Water Conference
About the Conference: The Eastern South Dakota Water Conference is held annually in Brookings and features presentations from universities, industry, local, state and federal government agencies, non-profits and other stakeholder groups. The conference covers the latest strategies and research for water managers and water users on the Northern Great Plains.
Click here to learn more and register. Registration is required by October 2.
Big Sioux River Community Clean-Up Event with Sioux Empire Paddlers
Join Sioux Empire Paddlers and Friends of the Big Sioux River for another community river clean-up event! We'll start at Pasley Park and travel to Riverdale Park, picking up trash along the way.
Sioux Empire Paddlers will provide canoes to collect the trash. The majority of the time will be spent walking in the river picking up litter, so please wear clothing and shoes you do not mind getting wet and/or dirty.
Friends of the Big Sioux River will provide garbage bags and gloves. Following the clean-up, we will provide a free picnic lunch for all participants. Please RSVP for this event so we can have an accurate count for lunch. We can't wait to see you there!
RSVP at facebook.com/events/449391394778196/!
Sustainability Night with Patagonia at Great Outdoor Store
Beers // Snacks // Vendors // Film Screenings from Patagonia
Join the Great Outdoor Store for an evening dedicated to sustainability and environmental stewardship. This event will bring together outdoor enthusiasts, eco-conscious individuals, and community members for an engaging and educational experience focused on protecting our planet.
Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club Meetup
Join us for the next monthly meetup of the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club! This month, we’ll be meeting at Heritage Pond in Crooks, SD on Thursday, September 19th from 6-7:30 PM. This new pond is on the south side of town. Enter Crooks on 470th Avenue and turn east on 11th Street. Drive through a development, and you can't miss it looking southeast.
Meetup Details
The Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club is for anyone who wants to learn about or share their passion for fly fishing.
No registration is required.
You are encouraged to bring your own gear but some will be provided.
A South Dakota fishing license is required.
Click here to learn more about the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club.
A partnership between Friends of the Big Sioux River and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus - Sioux Falls.
CANCELED: Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club Meetup
The Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club will be canceling tonight’s fishing trip to Heritage Pond in Crooks due to weather. Stay tuned for more upcoming opportunities.
Click here to learn more about the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club.
A partnership between Friends of the Big Sioux River and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus - Sioux Falls.
Downtown Riverfest
Join us for the 11th Annual Downtown Riverfest at Cherapa Place in downtown Sioux Falls. There will be live music, food trucks, kids' activities, canoe rides, and more! Best of all, we'll be raffling off some exciting outdoor products (more info on that coming soon!). We can't wait to see you there!
Click here to learn more.
Bugapalooza
Get ready to celebrate the "little guys" that play a BIG role in our ecosystem at Bugapalooza!
Bring the whole family for an educational and exciting event that highlights the importance of bugs in our natural world. With interactive exhibits and engaging vendors, you'll learn why bugs are essential for our planet's health!
Click here to learn more.
Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club Meetup
Join us for the next monthly meetup of the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club! This month, we’ll be meeting at McHardy Park in Brandon, SD on Thursday, July 25th from 6-7:30 PM.
Meetup Details
The Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club is for anyone who wants to learn about or share their passion for fly fishing.
No registration is required.
You are encouraged to bring your own gear but some will be provided.
A South Dakota fishing license is required.
Click here to learn more about the Big Sioux Fly Fishing Club.
A partnership between Friends of the Big Sioux River and South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks Outdoor Campus - Sioux Falls.
Sioux River Yoga Festival
Join the Joy Collective Yoga Studio for the first ever yoga festival celebrating communities surrounding the Big Sioux River and its watershed. On Saturday, July 20th, drop into the idyllic setting of The Good Earth Farm, an animal sanctuary surrounded by tall grass prairie. Enjoy an entire day of yoga led by dynamic teachers from South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota, all connected by the Big Sioux River watershed. Throughout the day, visit with local creators and artists, enjoy locally grown food, and connect with fellow attendees. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot for this relaxing event!
On Sunday, July 21st, folks will gather for even more yoga to benefit Friends of the Big Sioux River. 100% of proceeds directly benefit this non-profit doing the hard work of restoring and ensuring the health of the Big Sioux River watershed and promoting the environmental, recreational, economical use, and enjoyment of the river for future generations. Your donation of $30 ensures this crucial work can continue on AND you get access to Sunday’s classes. Click here to donate.
2024 Big Sioux Film Festival
A FUNDRAISER FOR FRIENDS OF THE BIG SIOUX RIVER
Thursday, February 8, 2024
Join us for a night of film, conversation, and hope for the future of our beloved Big Sioux River. The Big Sioux Film Festival is a space for those who want to see a change in the water quality of the river right here in our backyard. We will dive into three short films and hear from members of the FBSR board about the work FBSR is doing to improve the cleanliness of the Big Sioux.
EVENT AGENDA
5:30 - 7:00 PM - Cocktail Hour and Silent Auction with hors d'oeuvres and local brews
7:00 - 8:30 PM - Film Festival featuring river-related short films
TICKET PRICES
$30 - Cocktail Hour and Film Festival Entry, includes 5 beer/kombucha tasting tickets and hors d’oeuvres