Let’s start a conversation.
Initial hot take…
“Growth for the sake of growth is cancerous madness.”
– Edward Abbey
Truth?
A trio of state legislators seem to disagree and are working on assisting Western Dakota Regional Water System with a “future use permit” to bring western South Dakota a Missouri River water pipeline that would aid in “preventing shortages that could hinder growth.”
“Grok” assists with some background info for those who may not be up to speed on WDRWS:
The Western Dakota Regional Water System (WDRWS) is a nonprofit organization established in 2021 to address the growing water needs of western South Dakota. The organization focuses on planning, constructing, and managing the delivery of Missouri River water to communities, tribes, and other rural water systems in the region. Here’s an overview of its management and structure:
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Leadership:
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Dale Tech serves as the President of the WDRWS. He has been vocal about the potential severe water availability issues in the region and the need to explore additional water resources.
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Cheryl Chapman is the Executive Director. She has emphasized the importance of preparing for future water shortages and has been involved in discussions around the feasibility and planning of water projects.
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Formation and Purpose:
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WDRWS was formed by a coalition of tribal, community, governmental, and water system leaders who recognized the significance of quality drinking water for the future of western South Dakota. The organization aims to ensure sustainable water supply by potentially bringing Missouri River water to areas like the Black Hills, where water demand is expected to surpass local supply in drought conditions.
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Activities and Projects:
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The organization has been involved in conducting studies, like the one commissioned by the West Dakota Water Development District (WDWDD) in collaboration with South Dakota Mines, which highlighted the potential water shortages in western Pennington County.
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They are currently working on feasibility studies and concept designs for a pipeline system to transport water from the Missouri River or Lake Oahe to areas like Rapid City. This includes evaluating intake locations, pipeline routes, and the feasibility of localized water networks.
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Legislative and Community Engagement:
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WDRWS has been active in engaging with both local communities and legislative bodies. For instance, they have applied for a future-use permit for 20,765 acre-feet of water annually from the Missouri River, which was presented to the South Dakota Legislature for approval in late 2024.
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They’ve also hosted conferences to discuss water management, where leaders from various sectors including local government, engineering, and water management convene to discuss the project’s progress and future steps.
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Funding and Development:
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Funding for the project involves seeking legislative support and potentially federal aid, with discussions around matching funds from the State Water Resources Management System (SWRMS) for initial project phases.
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The group has been active in the Black Hills, hosting four open house events in June 2024 as far west as Lead, SD in Sen. Randy Deibert’s, District 31.
Thoughts…
Voters probably need to look into this more, especially with all the RINOs in this photo/post from 2023.
When it comes to the water needs, we need to figure out WHO is “sounding the alarm”…what is their role in the endeavor and what do they have to gain?
Estimated to be a $2B dollar pipeline. Are we looking at another potential land grab situation in the future?
This kind of came out of nowhere in 2021.
From the linked study:
The Black Hill Conservancy Sub-District was formed in 1964 and consisted of Meade, Custer, Lawrence, and Pennington Counties, excluding the towns of Quinn and Pringle. On November 18, 1976, a Future Use Water Permit 1443-2 was granted to the Black Hill Conservancy Sub-District on a 7-year renewal cycle. Effective December 31, 1984, the South Dakota Legislature dissolved Conservancy Sub-Districts and water development districts were formed effective January 1, 1985. On July 12, 1985, the water rights Permit 1443-2 and the responsibility for renewing the permit was assigned by the South Dakota Board of Water and Natural Resources to WDWDD.
In 2003, WDWDD correspondence for renewing the permit stated the “preliminary information from the Black Hills Water Management Study reveals that areas of the Black Hills could be hydrologically challenged by the year 2030.” In preparation of renewing the permit in 2017, WDWDD commissioned the School of South Dakota Mines (SDSMT) to complete the Missouri River Water Allotment Study for Future Use Water Permit 1443-2. I
Timeline:
2017, WDWDD commissioned the School of South Dakota Mines (SDSMT) to complete the Missouri River Water Allotment Study.
Western Dakota Regional Water System (WDRWS) was formed in 2021 to address the growing water needs of western South Dakota.
Who is leading WDRWS? Their Executive Director is Dr. Cheryl Chapman (Oct 2021 to Present). https://wdrws.org/meet-the-board/
Prior to that, Chapman was the Vice President of Banner Associates, Inc. (Jun 2019 – Oct 2021 -Rapid City Area). Chapman left Banner in Oct 2021 to become the Executive Director of WDRWS in Oct 2021 (how convenient!). A water use study was released in Oct 2021. The WDWDD retained Banner Associates, Inc. (Banner) of Brookings, South Dakota to develop a Water Use Study to evaluate the current and projected water demands and offer guidance on the establishment a new organization that would further explore water needs in western South Dakota.
Chapman is also a graduate of School of Mines and is the Former Chair of the South Dakota Democrat Party (2009-2010). https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-chapman-15423013/
Certainly more to follow. Keep your eyes and ears tuned to any bills related to this $2 BILLION dollar endeavor.
