Meetings with South Dakota’s Congressional Delegation

Thank you to the state of South Dakota’s delegation. Senators Rounds and Thune and Representative Johnson have been and continue to be very supportive of regional water efforts across the State of South Dakota. 

 In February 2024 WDRWS representatives Cheryl Chapman, Executive Director, and Miranda Kleven, Engineering Team Member, attended the annual Rural Water Rally in Washington, DC. Cheryl and Miranda took the opportunity to update South Dakota’s Congressional delegation members and staff about the project progress and the top Federal priority: receiving congressional authorization for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to work with WDRWS in the preparation of a feasibility study to deliver Missouri River water to western South Dakota. 

A federally approved feasibility study is required before funding for design and construction can be approved. 

Cheryl and Miranda joined other delegates from the South Dakota Association of Regional Water Systems (SDARWS) to meet with Senator Thune, Senator Rounds, and Representative Johnson on the urgent need for the Congressional authorization. Cheryl and Miranda also met with senior leaders in the Bureau of Reclamation in the Department of Interior headquarters.