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The Madison Wetland Management District preserves 38,500 acres of wetlands and waterfowl and wildlife habitat.
The northeast portion of the district (Deuel County) sits within the "Coteau des Prairie" or tall grass prairie region of South Dakota.
The district's staff also administer two easement programs with private landowners. One wetland easement program protects 52,200 acres of wetlands from drainage, the second grassland easement program protects 39,000 acres of grasslands from plowing.
This unique prairie environment in eastern South Dakota are home to Canada geese and a variety of ducks, such as blue-winged teal, gadwalls, pintails, ruddies, redheads and mallards.
The district, spread over nine counties, provides opportunities to picnic, fish, hunt and observe wildlife.
Visitor highlights include wildflowers that bloom from April to August at Coteau Prairie Waterfowl Production Area in Deuel County. Also worth a visit are the Paul Errington Memorial Marsh in Brookings County and Lake Whitewood in Kingsbury County.
Within the district is 18,000-acre Lake Thompson, the largest natural wetland in South Dakota, and Silver Lake, familiar to fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder's book, "By the Shores of Silver Lake." Today, the lake is actually a marsh located immediately east of DeSmet, where the Ingalls home is open to visitors.
The use of motorcycles, jeeps, snowmobiles, and other motorized traffic is prohibited except on designated trails. A non-interpreted wildlife drive begins near the district headquarters, located two miles east of the town of Madison and three-quarters of a mile south of the junction of state Hwys. 34 and 19.
Camping is available in nearby state parks.
Outdoor Activities |
