History
Lake Andes is a natural, shallow prairie lake whose water supply depends entirely on natural runoff. Lake levels periodically rise and fall, with the entire lake going dry about once every twenty years.
This was a lake the Sioux Indians knew well, for they frequently made camp here during their pursuit of migrating herds of buffalo and flocks of waterfowl. Around the turn of the century, as white settlements were becoming firmly established, the lake became well-known as a fine place to fish. Several resorts were built near the shoreline to accommodate visitors who arrived near the lake by train.
A Shared Task
Protecting South Dakota's wetlands is an enormous job. We are indeed fortunate that other agencies, private groups, and individuals share in this effort. These include the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, various joint ventures, and the thousands of farmers and ranchers who conserve wetlands on their property. By protecting wetlands, these groups and individuals make South Dakota a more interesting, and better place to live.
