BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State University Extension and the South Dakota Water Resources Institute at SDSU are excited to announce the theme of the 2026 Eastern South Dakota Water Conference: Balancing Economic Development with South Dakota Water Resources.
The annual conference covers the latest strategies and research for water managers and water users in the Northern Great Plains, featuring presentations from local, state and federal government agencies; non-profits; universities; industry; and other stakeholder groups.
This year’s event is from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CDT on Oct. 7, 2026, at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center in Brookings. Registration is required by Sept. 26 and is $85 for professionals or $25 for students, which includes lunch. To register, visit the SDSU Extension Events page and search “water”.
Ryan Lefers, Griffith Endowed Chair in Agriculture and Water Resources, South Dakota Water Resources Institute Director and SDSU Extension Water Management Specialist, said this year’s conference will focus on how to promote industry and economic development while properly allocating and protecting South Dakota’s water supply.
Many types of economic development require access to water. Lefers said encouraging continued development responsibly requires discussions on where that water will be sourced, and how to protect it from contamination.
“We want to maintain water quality as well as water quantity so the people of our state can enjoy those resources,” Lefers said.
Lefers said conference topics will be long-term trends in water availability, a key consideration in economic development, along with discussions on Missouri River water use, historical water allocation and rights, lessons learned from recent projects and an update on ongoing water management projects in the state.
“It’s a really good opportunity for networking with water professionals from across the state,” Lefers said. “We have so many people working on water from different angles, and we’re a big state where you don’t always see what’s happening in other communities. This is a chance to align on strategies and paths forward.”
For more information, contact Lefers at 605-688-5610.
Upcoming Events
Eastern South Dakota Water Conference
The Eastern South Dakota Water Conference will be held on Wednesday, October 7, at the McCrory Gardens Education and Visitor Center (631 22nd Ave., Brookings, SD 57006).
