An Eye-Opener

Dale Tech is the City of Rapid City’s Director of Public Works. He also serves as WDRWS’s President. He was first alerted to the need of creating a diverse portfolio of water resources by a 2019 SD Mines study. “That analysis was really an eye-opener for a lot of people,” Tech says. That study indicates a combination of increased population growth and the presence of drought conditions could result in dire consequences for western South Dakota — unless action is taken. “We’ve really seen the kind of scenario that we’re trying to avoid in California and the southwest U.S. over the last year — they’re running out of water,” Tech says. To avoid this kind of progress-halting restrictions on water, Tech advises that the communities of western South Dakota diversify their water resources. “We need to grow smartly and conserve our water resources. Utilizing Missouri River water is something we have to certainly investigate and participate in. And it’s a very worthwhile endeavor. And if we can make it happen, I think that’s going to be an integral part of western South Dakota for the next hundred years or more.”