Determination of sediment thickness and volume in Lake Byron, South Dakota, using continuous seismic-reflection methods, May 1992

A sediment survey to assess the amount and distribution of lake sediment was made as part of a diagnostic/feasibility study investigating the potential for lake restoration of Lake Byron, South Dakota. A high-frequency, continuous seismic- reflection system was used to estimate thickness of sediment, and a global-positioning system was used to monitor horizontal and vertical position while traversing 15 north-south and two diagonal transects of the lake. The volume of water was 10,645 acre- feet, and the average depth was 5.6 feet. The volume of loose, uncompacted sediment in Lake Byron was estimated to be 3.8 million cubic yards, and the average depth of uncompacted sediment was estimated to be 1.2 feet. The volume of total lake sediment in Lake Byron was estimated to be 34 million cubic yards. The average thickness of total lake sediment in the Western part of Lake Byron was estimated to be 11 feet.