Page 8 - SDWF Out of Doors

Out of Doors 8 May - July 2023

29 - 90 sPoRtsman’s club makes a donatIon In HonoR of emmet keyseR

On Tuesday, May 30th, 2023, the 29 - 90
Sportsman’s Club donated $1000.00 towards
the purchase of a trackchair in honor of Emmett
Keyser for the work he has done with NGOs
throughout his career with the South Dakota
Department of Game, Fish & Parks. Through
his engagement efforts, he was able to develop
close working relationships with these various
NGO’s which led to many successful projects
being completed across the state which benefitted
both the natural resources of South Dakota and
many times provided more or better access for its
citizens and our guests.
With that being said, “The members of the 29 -
90 Sportsman’s Club will miss Emmett and his
wisdom and wish him and his family the best in his
retirement.”

People in attached picture from left to right: Karen
Keyser, Emmett Keyser, Megan Keyser, Michael Samp,
Jeff Bickel, Mark Willadsen, Charles Rokusek and
Dean Schueler. (The Keyser Family, Michael Samp, Volunteer Fundraiser for Operation-Mobility (in partnership with the SD Parks and Wildlife Foundation)

fIsH PoPulatIons affected by seveRe wInteR kIll, RestoRatIon effoRts

BY: JOSHUA HAIAR

Winter kills had a larger-than-average public to identify winter kills. Staff
impact on the state’s fish populations in regularly conduct winter checks, while
2022-23, the state’s fisheries program conservation officers engage with
manager told the South Dakota Game, landowners and monitor systems for
Fish and Parks Commission last week. signs of a kill. The damage assessment
involves “test netting,” where trap nets
“It was, unfortunately, really prime are set to determine the extent of the
conditions for winter kill across South kill and tally the remaining fish. Such
Dakota,” said Jake Davis. “All regions assessments guide stocking strategies
experienced some winter kill to some level for restocking fish in affected water
on some of their systems.” systems.

During winter, a lack of dissolved oxygen Winter kill severity varied across South
in bodies of water can lead to a “winter kill.” Dakota. In the west, severe kills were
The conditions that cause a winter kill observed in four water bodies, while
begin to form when lakes and rivers freeze Gov. Kristi Noem and Lt. Gov. Larry Rhoden joined Game, Fish the central and southeastern regions
over. The ice and snow cover prevents and Parks fisheries staff in their restocking efforts on May 8, recorded winter kills in 21 and 22 water
photosynthesis, preventing aquatic plants bodies, respectively. The situation in
from producing oxygen. Decomposing plant and animal remains, the northeast was still being assessed
meanwhile, continue to consume the limited amount of available oxygen. at the time of the briefing, as ice cover remained in that area.

The severity of a winter kill depends on factors like the duration and “There were an awful lot of systems that didn’t experience winter kill,
thickness of the ice and snow cover, the size and depth of the body of too,” Davis noted.
water, and the availability of alternative habitats for fish to seek refuge. Game, Fish and Parks is restocking through their hatcheries and the

The shallow wetlands and creeks of South Dakota, with their limited trap-and-transfer method. Hatchery-raised walleye, largemouth bass,
capacity to hold dissolved oxygen under ice, were particularly affected bluegill, and rainbow trout are commonly stocked into the state’s water
during the winter of 2022-2023. bodies. Adult fish from excess populations in certain fisheries can also
be moved to other systems to improve angling opportunities and boost
“We have a lot of systems that are quite shallow, and what that means, the reproductive potential of the transferred fish, Davis said.
generally, is that capacity to store dissolved oxygen under the ice is a lot “We have restocked most of these systems, or we’re in the process of
lower than a deeper system with higher volume,” Davis said.
doing that,” He said, pointing to GF&P fisheries staff having conducted
The combination of low water levels from the fall drought and the winter’s dozens of restocking efforts across the state in recent weeks.
heavy snowfall exacerbated the situation. However, Davis said that Davis assured the public that restocking efforts were well underway,
winter kill can have positive outcomes, especially in reducing populations with most affected systems already restocked. Numerous lakes and
of undesirable species like common carp and black bullhead, which are water bodies were not affected, he said, and offer excellent fishing
challenging to manage through human intervention. opportunities.
Game, Fish and Parks relies on reports from both their staff and the