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Watertown City Council Greenlights Lake Park Drainage Project to Salvage Camp Season

Man at podium speaks in empty pink room. Text reads "Watertown City Council Greenlights Lake Park Drainage Project to Salvage Camp Season." Watertown logo visible.

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a $79,367.27 bid award to Level Contracting LLC for a drainage project at Stokes-Thomas Lake City Park. The initiative aims to solve persistent flooding that has rendered nearly two dozen campsites unusable during wet seasons, resulting in considerable lost revenue for the city.


The project, designated as Project No. 2528, involves installing a comprehensive drain tile system throughout the campground area north of the entrance. Currently, 22 sites are frequently closed due to standing water. Parks, Recreation & Forestry Director Dusty Rodiek informed the council that in 2025 alone, those sites were closed for 90 days, leading to a potential revenue loss of nearly $59,000 at full occupancy.


Rodiek noted that even if the project reduces downtime by half, the city could realize approximately $14,850 in annual revenue. Based on these estimates, he projected a “break-even” point on the investment in approximately 8.1 to 10 years.


City Engineer Justin Petersen explained that the new system will collect water into a central pipe leading to a sump area near the Lake Kampeska seawall.


·        Low Lake Levels: Water will drain naturally through the bottom of the catch basin.

·        High Lake Levels: The city will utilize a single pump to move accumulated water over the seawall and into the lake.


This centralized approach replaces the current labor-intensive method, in which city staff must “chase pumps all over” to dewater low spots manually. Petersen clarified that while the project is not designed to stop flooding from massive rain events, it is engineered to mitigate “nuisance-type ponding” and to dewater the area much faster, preventing cattail growth and mosquito breeding.

What are you looking forward to most once the new drainage system is in place?

  • Fewer mosquitoes and bugs! 🦟

  • More available weekend campsites. 🏕️

  • A better-looking park for visitors. ✨

  • Earlier starts to the camping season. 🗓️

Financials and Competitive Bidding

The project saw interest from regional firms, with nine bids received on December 17, 2025. Level Contracting LLC’s winning bid of $79,367.27 was notably 19% lower than that of the next-closest competitor.


The council expressed satisfaction with the project’s budget, as the city had allocated $150,000 for campground improvements. The bid acceptance leaves over $70,000 in the account for potential change orders or further enhancements.


Council members emphasized that the project is as much about community pride as it is about the bottom line. Councilman Brent Mohrmann highlighted that the park is a “long-time standing place in our community” and that draining the area provides a more “aesthetically appealing park” for visitors.


Councilman Michael Heuer, who has camped at the park since 1996, added that the drainage will allow the camping season to start earlier in the spring when flooding is most prevalent.


Mayor Ried Holien also noted the “residual income” generated when campers visit town to spend money at local businesses.


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