Kampeska Chapter History
Watertown, South Dakota

The Kampeska Chapter of the Izaak Walton League was formed September 4, 1979.

Personnel

The first president of the group was W.C. "Bill" Williams from September 1979 to September 1981. He was followed by Ed Spies, 1981-82; Steve Lowrie, 1982-83; Bob Bemis, 1983-85; :Lee Schull, 1985-86; Gary Williams, 1986-88; Mike Williams, 1988-1994; Don Crouse, 1994 - 1999; Ken Madison, 1999 - 02, Jim Madsen 2002 - 2004, Jerry Olson 2005 - Present.

The Kampeska Chapter was founded by W. C. Williams in 1976. One hundred members were listed on the charter. The primary purpose was to restore the Giant Canada Geese to the local area. Shortly thereafter a crappie rearing program was established. Hundreds of young geese were released in the area. This program continued until 1996. The local population is in the thousands as a result of this program. There is even a special season to control numbers. Millions of crappie fingerlings were released to lake Kampeska annually.

The lead goose passed away in 1988, and the chapter floundered. However, new blood resurrected the chapter, and many new conservation programs, from wildlife food plats to a multi million dollar watershed restoration project were implemented.

In 1989 a comprehensive fishing survey helped the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks establish new walleye size and limit regulations. These regulations have become established throughout the State in major water bodies. Quality walleye fishing has returned.

This period included a diagnostic feasibility study with the Environmental Protection Agency. For three and one half years the Ike's conducted a silt survey on Lake Kampeska as well as water quality sampling. Thousands of man hours of volunteer labor from the chapter and others were needed. This was made possible by a $10,000 grant from the IWLA Endowment fund, and $5,000 from the Watertown Community Foundation. From this beginning the EPA, State. and local funds of over $2,000,000 has established Best Management Practices in the watershed. Local farmers cost share with these funds to establish conservation controls in the watershed. Additional funding for conservation work and flood control has reached an additional $7,000,000. This, because a few Ikes had a vision. The Chapter was awarded the James Lawton Childs award for this activity.

The Kampeska Chapter built an arboretum for the City of Watertown during the summers of 1991-5. With a small grant from the South Dakota Forestry Division of the USDA and a grant from the local Rotary Club. The Chapter secured volunteer leadership from a local nursery, and spent four years establishing this wildlife sanctuary. Walk paths, a gazebo, granite benches, and a planned fishing facility highlight the area. With only $5,000 the chapter established what would have cost professionally $35,000. Many trees, flowering shrubs, special grasses, are used to draw songbirds, ducks and geese, as well as some upland nesting cover. The sanctuary includes raised berms for the trees and shrubs, and a fishing pond on the 5 acre site. The project was turned over to the city in 1996.

The Chapter organized a youth fishing program with cooperation from the SD Game Fish and Parks department. The program included knot tying, skish casting lessons, rod and lure matching, hands on fish, turtles, and amphibian identification. Conservation of water and game species are stressed during the morning. Following a picnic lunch, the children were given the use of rods, reels, lures, and bait. Not a lot of fish are caught, but young people enjoy it very much. In 1997 record floods prevented this activity, but it will continue in 1998 with support from the local Econo Foods grocery store. The Chapter earned the American Fisheries Award in South Dakota in 1996 for this program and the crappie rearing activities. We were also awarded the Robert C. O'Hare award from the IWLA for youth activities.

The Kampeska Chapter established a waterfowl protection area on the lands of one our active members. This 700 acre refuge includes goose nesting platforms, mallard platforms, and wood duck nesting boxes. 200 wood duck boxes have also been distributed around Lake Kampeska. 40 acres of wetlands have also been restored on this land. The owner received the Tobin Award for 1997 for his generous support.

The newest project is a development of a nature trial and butterfly garden at the local county park. The nature trail is just under 4000 feet long and includes viewing platforms to photograph or simply observe wetland wildlife without impacting their activities. The trail is marked with signs to identify the trees, grass, wildflowers, and Neotropical song birds that may occupy the areas. A scenic view gazebo is planned on the highest hill along the trail. From this spot that over looks the lake, hikers may rest or simply enjoy the view. Kampeska Members used a grant from the South Dakota Game Fish and Parks and one from the Izaak Walton League Foundation to match local funds to hire a contractor to shape the trail. Clean-up, tree trimming, construction of a bridge and viewing platforms, creation of the butterfly garden and wildflower plat was done by members.

Two years ago the chapter established a scholarship program at the Lake Area Technical Institute to award two graduating students recognition for their conservation work. This is done in memory of Billy Williams, the founder of the Kampeska Chapter.

These activities highlight the many community conservation efforts of the Kampeska Chapter not included here. Among our local activities, we remain active with State and Federal legislation. Our opinions and recommendations are solicited from our government representatives.

Our current plans include the enhancement of a wetland area near Lake Kampeska. The Chapter is participating  in the creation of a wetland education center on the site. The chapter idea has been adopted by the City of Watertown and artist Terry Redlin. A director for the Redlin Freshwater Institute has been hired. A master plan has been developed and implementation is expected to begin this spring. It will include a tall grass prairie remnant, seasonal and permanent wetlands and the education building itself.

The Izaak Walton Memorial Trail
By Jim Madsen, Kampeska Chapter

The Kampeska Chapter, in the fall of 2001, came up with the idea of making an interpretive trail using parts of an old hiking path that partially looped the edge of a wetland on the North West edge of Lake Kampeska.  With the help of the South Dakota Game Fish and Park (SD GF&P) a new trail was plotted, using a GPS system that fully looped the wetland.  The new trail took advantage of the best plant specimens, terrain and windows (panoramic views of the lake and wetland).   The Chapter formed committees to develop ideas for the trail, a butterfly garden, the interpretive signs, a bridge, a wildlife viewing platform, a gazebo and a native grass plot

The Chapter received funding for the project, in the form of grants, from the National Recreation Trails Program administered by the SD GF&P, the Codington County Commission (owners of the property), the Lake Kampeska Water Project District and the National Izaak Walton League Endowment.

The Chapter members and other volunteers started the physical work in the early spring of 2002.  As of this writing a nearly 4000 foot long 6 foot wide 4 inch deep packed gravel trail has been completed at a cost of $11,000.  A 12’ by 16’ cedar viewing platform, designed by the SD GF&P has been built at a cost of $2,100.  A 1/3-acre butterfly garden with ornamentals trees, signs and benches was built at a cost of $1,800.

Next Spring an old 48 foot dock, being re-structured into a bridge, will be placed over a low area between the lake and the wetland at an expected cost of $1,200.  Thirty to forty weather proof signs are being designed to identify the history, ecology, and specimens of plant and animal life of the area, budgeted at $4,000.  Lastly a gazebo is planned atop Inspiration Point as a resting area and information stop.

The Kampeska Chapter has plans to increase the size of the butterfly garden and develop a multi species native grasses area.  It is the Chapter’s hope to work with the owner to continually develop ideas that will enhance the outdoor experience of the Izaak Walton Memorial Trail.