SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Cold and little snow provide perfect conditions for the city to remove silt and sediment from river channels and ponds.
Stormwater Manager Andy Berg says frozen ground provides a stable surface for heavy equipment to remove debris.
Berg says the city has removed over 7,600 tons of silt from the river channel so far this winter. 1,850 tons of silt and debris have been taken from a pond on the Prairie Green Golf Course.
He also adds that 11,000 tons of debris was removed this past year by street sweeping alone.
Berg says it's important to keep waterways operating at their highest capacity to help protect property during large storms. The city works annually to ensure drainage systems are functioning at their highest levels.