BROOKINGS, S.D.(WNAX)- As dairy farm development continues in the I-29 corridor in eastern South Dakota, there is concern about the impacts to water quality in the Big Sioux River.

Jay Gilbertson, manager of the East Dakota Water Development District based in Brookings, says they reported on that to their board at the February meeting.

Gilbertson says they watch the nitrate load carefully.

Those nitrates peaked last fall close to ten parts per million at the monitoring station near Dell Rapids.

Gilbertson says they found some downstream problems too.

The state Department of Ag and Natural Resources has announced additional financial incentives for producers that idle grass acres near rivers and streams in the Big Sioux River watershed.