Water Safety in South Dakota

In South Dakota, bring a life jacket for every person on any boat, kayak, paddleboard or raft, swim inside the marked beach zones at state parks, and stay off the water when it's windy or stormy. South Dakota's drowning rate is above the national rate.

South Dakota drowning and boating numbers

1.55 per 100,000

• Drowning: CDC puts South Dakota's average annual drowning death rate for 2018-2021 at 1.55 per 100,000 people (opens in a new tab), in the second-highest band on its map.
• Boating: The U.S. Coast Guard counted 10 reportable recreational boating incidents in South Dakota in 2024, with 2 deaths and 6 injuries (opens in a new tab). Deaths by year: 3 in 2020, 2 in 2021, none in 2022, 2 in 2023 and 2 in 2024.

CDC counts drowning deaths of residents; the Coast Guard counts boating incidents. See our South Dakota data page.

Life jackets for every vessel

South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) says all boats/vessels, regardless of size, need to have a properly sized lifejacket for every person on board (opens in a new tab). Vessels include anything used outside a designated swimming area to keep a person afloat, such as paddleboards, kayaks, canoes and inflatable rafts. GFP's advice is simple: wear your life jacket.

GFP's other boating reminders:

• Don't boat under the influence. Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents (opens in a new tab), and South Dakota's legal limit is .08. Pick a designated driver.
• No careless riding. South Dakota law prohibits careless and reckless operation, including letting people ride on the bow or transom while underway, or speeding near beaches, fishing boats and docks.
• Don't overload. Check the capacity plate for the maximum weight and number of people.
• Carry the gear: life jackets, a throwable device, fire extinguisher, lights and a whistle or horn.

Read boating under the influence.

Paddling

GFP's paddling tips:

• Do not take canoes, kayaks or paddleboards out in windy and/or stormy conditions (opens in a new tab).
• Make sure there is at least one adult in each canoe or kayak.
• Check that every life jacket fits and is zipped or buckled.
• Stay close to shore, especially when you're learning.
• Watch for fences across streams. Fences cross many of South Dakota's navigable streams.

See kayak and canoe safety and paddleboard safety.

State park beaches

GFP says nearly every South Dakota state park offers swimming (opens in a new tab). Zoned beaches and swimming areas protect swimmers, and pets, boats, glass containers and fishing are not allowed inside them. Stay inside the zone, and keep a close eye on children. Read lake swimming safety.

The Missouri River

On the Missouri National Recreational River, the National Park Service warns of constantly changing sandbars and snags (opens in a new tab) and tree trunks that bob just under the surface. The channel is unmarked, the river can flow very fast, up to seven miles per hour (opens in a new tab), and the prairie wind can push paddlers off course. If you swim in the river, don't swim alone and always wear a life jacket. See river safety.

Boating education

A boating safety course is not required in South Dakota, but GFP says a NASBLA- or Coast Guard-approved course is highly recommended. See GFP boating safety (opens in a new tab). Federal law requires children under 13 to wear a life jacket on a moving boat (opens in a new tab). This is a summary, not legal advice.

What you can do today

• Count life jackets against everyone in your group, including on paddleboards and rafts.
• Check the wind forecast before you paddle, and stay home if it's windy or stormy.
• Swim inside the zoned beach at state parks.
• Take an approved boating course, even though it isn't required.
• Find swim lessons with our guide to finding swim lessons.