Special Places to Visit Within the Madison Wetland Management District
Coteau Prairie Waterfowl Production Area - prairie grasses, wildflowers, wetlands and wildlife abound here. Drive 19 miles east of Watertown on Highway 212. Area is on north side of highway.
Memorial Art Center - Contains an outstanding collection of paintings
by world-renowned artist Harvey Dunn depicting pioneer life on the South
Dakota prairies. Located on campus at South Dakota State University in
Brookings.
Paul Errington Memorial Marsh - Public wetlands area dedicated to the
memory of Paul Errington, outstanding biologist and writer whose boyhood days
were spent in this area. Drive 10 miles west of Brookings on Highway 14 and
then 10 miles north on county road.
Lake Whitewood - A classic prairie marsh that frequently attracts large numbers of snow geese and ducks during the spring and fall. Located 4 miles east and one-half mile south of the town of Lake Preston.
Lake Thompson - Lake Thompson is a dramatic example of the effect of
wetland drainage on people downstream. Overflow from drained wetlands in the
watershed after heavy rains in the early 1980's filled Lake Thompson. After
being nearly dry ever since settlement 100 years ago, the lake rose to depths
of 24 feet deep, flooding 8,000 acre of adjacent privately owned land.
Silver Lake - Referred to in Laura Ingalls Wilder's book "By the
Shores of Silver Lake." Today, the lake is actually a marsh located
immediately east of De Smet of the north side of Highway 14. The Ingalls' home
(museum) can be visited in De Smet.
Lake Herman - A good place to witness the migration of snow geese or, on the east side, to camp in the State park. Drive 2 miles west of Madison, on Highway 34. Lake is on the south,
Headquarters, WMD - Located 3/4 of a mile south of the Highway 34 and Highway 19 junction. Visitors are welcome.
