For years, bacteria pollution was a concern in Antelope Creek and the Wild Rice River in North Dakota, affecting recreational uses and prompting long-term monitoring. The Richland County Soil Conservation District began monitoring the watershed in 1995. A decade later, it launched a watershed implementation project aimed at tackling the sources behind the problem.
From septic repairs to livestock controls, cover crops and well decommissioning, the work continued for years. The resulting data showed an overall decline in bacteria levels across the watershed, as perU.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Long-Term Best Management Practice Implementation Reduces Bacteria Loading in Antelope Creek and the Wild Rice River.” National Nonpoint Source Success Stories.
