In the southeastern corner of the State of South Dakota, 40 miles north of Sioux Falls and about 12 miles west of the Minnesota border, lies an interesting territory known as Moody County. It is comprised of the county seat city of Flandreau, several smaller towns, a Santee Sioux Native American reservation, and many scattered farms. A major tributary of the Missouri River, the Big Sioux, meanders through the area as well, helping to make the district even more unique. A closer examination of a portion of this distinctive county, containing segments of Ward, Spring Creek, Flandreau, Grovena, Union, and Lone Rock townships, reveals especially interesting characteristics in the areas of topography, population statistics, and the dynamic realm of agriculture that dominates much of the countryside.
             Descending from the northwestern corner of the area, and rambling south and east before flowing out near the central west portion of the vicinity, is the single dominating figure of the area in question; the Big Sioux River. Contrary to what the name implies, South Dakota's Game, Fish, and Parks reports the so-called "Big" Sioux typically ranges from two to six feet in depth through autumn, although during spring flooding it is capable of reaching far greater depths . Thus the river is not capable of transportation at all and it 's essential value to the community is recreational. On either side of the river, extending anywhere from less than 100 to several thousand feet, is the Sioux River Valley. The Valley area is a relatively flat landscape which has proved advantageous for such accommodations as the Flandreau Golf Course, City Park, and the city of Flandreau itself, situated along the banks of the river, nestled in the flatlands of the river valley.
             The Moody County Soil Survey reports that the soil immediately surrounding the river in the northwest portion of the study area is known as the "LamoArlo a...