Grand River National Grassland
Encyclopedia
Grand River National Grassland is a National Grassland in northwestern South Dakota
, USA
. It is named for the Grand River
. The North and South forks of the rivers meet in the grassland. It has a land area of 154,783 acre
s (241.85 sq mi, or 626.38 km²). In descending order of acreage it lies in parts of Perkins
, Corson
, and Ziebach
counties. The portion in Corson County also lies within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation
. The portion in Ziebach County also lies within the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation
. The grassland is administered by the USDA-Forest Service as part of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands
(DPG) from offices in Bismarck, North Dakota
. There is a local Ranger District office (shared with Cedar River National Grassland
) in Lemmon, South Dakota
. The DPG is part of Region One of the Forest Service. The Regional Headquarters is in Missoula, MT.
The Dakota Prairie Grasslands recently published a book entitled "Plants of the Grand River and Cedar River National Grasslands:2008" that is available free to the public. It was written by Kurt Hansen and is a good resource for plant enthusiasts wanting to know more about the mixed grass prairie. The District has a variety of habitats:mixed grass prairie, river bottom, green ash draws, sand dunes along the South Fork of the Grand River, badlands, sandstone outcrops and buttes, and claypan areas with a few small playas in Corson County. Approximately 20000 acres (80.9 km²) of the District is old cropland that was reseeded to crested wheatgrass. 476 species from 78 families have been discovered so far. Inquiries can be at the offices in Lemmon, SD, or Bismarck, ND. The publication is also available on the DPG's website. For birding enthusiasts, there is also a comphrehensive birding checklist of the District.
The District has a 7 miles (11.3 km) hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking trail south of Lemmon about 12 miles (19.3 km) called the Blacktail Trail. It is a loop trail. The trail head is located adjacent to State Highway 73. The trail takes you through mixed grass prairie and badlands and passes near one of only two aspen stands on the District. A picnic area and fishing area is also located at the trailhead. A good gravel road connects the trial head to the highway.
The District also shares part of the shoreline of Shadehill reservoir. This area is accessible from State Highway 79, west of the highway. This part of the lakeshore is adjacent to the South Cabin sites. Camping is free. A good gravel shoreline is available for fishing. As you travel on most of the grasslands, it is all open to livestock grazing, so you will have to share it with cattle. This includes the roadways.
Recent projects on the District include planting cottonwoods along the South Fork of the Grand River and revamping crested wheatgrass stands with native seedings.
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is named for the Grand River
Grand River (South Dakota)
The Grand River is a tributary of the Missouri River in North Dakota and South Dakota in the United States. The length of the combined branch is 110 mi...
. The North and South forks of the rivers meet in the grassland. It has a land area of 154,783 acre
Acre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
s (241.85 sq mi, or 626.38 km²). In descending order of acreage it lies in parts of Perkins
Perkins County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,363 people, 1,429 households, and 937 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.2 people per square mile . There were 1,854 housing units at an average density of 0.6 per square mile...
, Corson
Corson County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,181 people, 1,271 households, and 949 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.7 people per square mile . There were 1,536 housing units at an average density of 0.6 per square mile...
, and Ziebach
Ziebach County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,519 people, 741 households, and 594 families residing in the county. The population density was 1.3 people per square mile . There were 879 housing units at an average density of 0.4 per square mile...
counties. The portion in Corson County also lies within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation
Standing Rock Indian Reservation
The Standing Rock Indian Reservation is a Lakota, Yanktonai and Dakota Indian reservation in North Dakota and South Dakota in the United States...
. The portion in Ziebach County also lies within the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation
Cheyenne River Indian Reservation
The Cheyenne River Indian Reservation was created by the United States in 1889 by breaking up the Great Sioux Reservation, following its victory over the Lakota in a series of wars in the 1870s. The reservation covers almost all of Dewey and Ziebach counties in South Dakota...
. The grassland is administered by the USDA-Forest Service as part of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands
Dakota Prairie Grasslands
The Dakota Prairie Grasslands was formed in 1998. It consists of four Ranger District offices that manage four National Grasslands: the Little Missouri National Grassland, Sheyenne National Grassland and Cedar River National Grassland in North Dakota and the Grand River National Grassland in...
(DPG) from offices in Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
. There is a local Ranger District office (shared with Cedar River National Grassland
Cedar River National Grassland
Cedar River National Grassland is a National Grassland located in Sioux County and Grant County in southern North Dakota, United States. It has a land area of 6,717 acres . The portion in Sioux County lies within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Within the grassland are topographic features...
) in Lemmon, South Dakota
Lemmon, South Dakota
Lemmon is a city in Perkins County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,227 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Lemmon is located at ....
. The DPG is part of Region One of the Forest Service. The Regional Headquarters is in Missoula, MT.
The Dakota Prairie Grasslands recently published a book entitled "Plants of the Grand River and Cedar River National Grasslands:2008" that is available free to the public. It was written by Kurt Hansen and is a good resource for plant enthusiasts wanting to know more about the mixed grass prairie. The District has a variety of habitats:mixed grass prairie, river bottom, green ash draws, sand dunes along the South Fork of the Grand River, badlands, sandstone outcrops and buttes, and claypan areas with a few small playas in Corson County. Approximately 20000 acres (80.9 km²) of the District is old cropland that was reseeded to crested wheatgrass. 476 species from 78 families have been discovered so far. Inquiries can be at the offices in Lemmon, SD, or Bismarck, ND. The publication is also available on the DPG's website. For birding enthusiasts, there is also a comphrehensive birding checklist of the District.
The District has a 7 miles (11.3 km) hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking trail south of Lemmon about 12 miles (19.3 km) called the Blacktail Trail. It is a loop trail. The trail head is located adjacent to State Highway 73. The trail takes you through mixed grass prairie and badlands and passes near one of only two aspen stands on the District. A picnic area and fishing area is also located at the trailhead. A good gravel road connects the trial head to the highway.
The District also shares part of the shoreline of Shadehill reservoir. This area is accessible from State Highway 79, west of the highway. This part of the lakeshore is adjacent to the South Cabin sites. Camping is free. A good gravel shoreline is available for fishing. As you travel on most of the grasslands, it is all open to livestock grazing, so you will have to share it with cattle. This includes the roadways.
Recent projects on the District include planting cottonwoods along the South Fork of the Grand River and revamping crested wheatgrass stands with native seedings.