In Marshall County, South Dakota and Sargent County, North Dakota, major ditch construction has served to straighten this river and more quickly drain water off adjacent farmland. The Wild Rice River begins in northeastern South Dakota and flows northward and eastward. Other important rivers in the MLRA are the Goose, Maple, and Wild Rice rivers which are also tributaries to the Red River of the North. The Sheyenne River receives additional water from Devils Lake (during periods of high lake levels) via two outlet pumping stations.
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Major tributaries to the James River are the Pipestem and Elm Rivers. The Sheyenne River flows to the south and to the east it empties into the Red River of the North in MLRA 56. The James River flows generally southward through the MLRA and empties into the Missouri River beyond the MLRA border. A relatively narrow, low range of hills separates these rivers creating a continental watershed divide. The James and Sheyenne Rivers both have their headwaters in the northern part of the MLRA. Seven rivers flow through parts of the MLRA. MLRA 55B is located within the boundaries of the Prairie Pothole Region with numerous wetlands in areas without integrated drainage systems. The Drift Prairie Region consists of nearly level to gently rolling glacial till plains dissected by glacial outwash channels. Some soils, particularly along the Elm, James and Sheyenne rivers, have weathered shale beds in the substratum. These areas have the Late Wisconsin age till plain integrated drainage system in contrast to the closed drainage of the majority of the till plain and moraines. Pre-glaciated bedrock (shale) is exposed on the breaks to some of the valleys and incised drainageways but what covers the bedrock is glacier sediment, known as drift. Most of MLRA 55B is covered by till: material that was moved and redeposited by the glaciers. The Central Black Glaciated Plains MLRA is an expansive and agriculturally important region consisting of more than 10,000,000 acres and including all or a portion of 27 counties in east-central and southeastern North Dakota and northeastern South Dakota.
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Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 055B–Central Black Glaciated Plains