PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — A request that more than 6.7 billion gallons a year of Missouri River be reserved for future use by people in western South Dakota is heading to the Legislature for state lawmakers to consider in 2025.
Western Dakota Regional Water System wants to reserve 20,765 acre-feet of water annually. The amount is based on preliminary water demand projections through the year 2080. Western Dakota, based in Rapid City, applied to the state Water Management Board for the future-use permit.
The state board last week voted to present Western Dakota’s request to the Legislature for approval. The process is required by South Dakota law for any appropriation exceeding 10,000 acre feet.
The state board on Wednesday morning held a special meeting to approve the minutes from the December 4 meeting. Those minutes will be part of the packet forwarded to the Legislature for consideration.
Should the Legislature adopt a resolution of approval, the state board then would schedule a formal evidentiary hearing on the Western Dakota future-use application.
Earlier this year, the Legislature adopted a resolution approving a future-use permit for 19,121 acre feet of water from the Missouri: Elk Point Aquifer in southeastern South Dakota sought by Lewis & Clark Regional Water System.
If the state board does grant the future-use permit sought by Western Dakota, the state board under South Dakota law must then review it every seven years. But what also must happen is that Western Dakota receive the funding to pipe the water.
When Western Dakota does decide it’s ready to begin putting water from the Missouri River to beneficial use, Western Dakota would then need to file a second application, and the state board would formally consider the matter a second time.
According to Western Dakota executive director Cheryl Chapman, obtaining a future-use permit is “essential” for meeting the region’s long-term water needs. “The support of the Legislature and Water Management Board will be crucial to making this vision a reality,” she said in a message on Western Dakota’s website.
Transporting the water will be expensive. In 2022, Republican Sen. Helene Duhamel introduced legislation seeking $100 million to pay for for the engineering, design, and preconstruction activities. The money was to come from South Dakota’s share of federal COVID-19 aid. The Senate eventually voted for $50 million but the House fell two supporters short.
