Planning for the Future

Congressional Delegation Supports WDRWS Feasibility Study Through Legislation 

The South Dakota congressional delegation is actively supporting a plan to bring water from the Missouri River to western South Dakota communities. Sen. John Thune, Sen. Mike Rounds, and Rep. Dusty Johnson introduced bicameral versions of legislation in September to authorize a feasibility study for the Western Dakota Regional Water System (WDRWS). 

“We applaud Senators Thune and Rounds, as well as Representative Johnson’s introduction of bills to authorize a Bureau of Reclamation feasibility study for Western South Dakota Regional Water. We’re also grateful for Senator Rounds’ legislation to reauthorize the Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2006,” said Cheryl Chapman, executive director of WDRWS. “Authorization of the feasibility study is the next crucial step to deliver abundant, quality water to all corners of western South Dakota.” 

“We now have two pathways forward to receive authorization for a feasibility study,” said Chapman. Currently, large scale water projects require two levels of congressional authorization – first for feasibility studies and a second for construction. Sen. Thune’s, which was co-sponsored by Sen. Rounds, and  Rep. Johnson’s bills would require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of constructing a project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water from the Missouri River to the WDRWS. 

“The Western Dakota Regional Water System is a promising proposal to address the rapidly growing water needs of the Black Hills region,” said Sen. Thune. “This legislation would advance the project by authorizing a Bureau of Reclamation study in order to determine the feasibility of the project, and I’m proud to join Rep. Johnson and Sen. Rounds in this critical effort.” 

“Water is essential,” said Rep. Johnson. “Ensuring our Western South Dakota communities receive sufficient and clean water is necessary for healthy, growing communities. I am grateful for Senator Thune and Rounds’ partnership on this issue and look forward to continuing to advance the Western Dakota Rural Water System project.” 

Sen. Rounds also introduced legislation in June alongside Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. Reauthorization of the Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2006 would allow the Bureau of Reclamation to develop and recommend rural water supply projects. Without it, Congress must authorize feasibility studies on a case-by-case basis, as represented in Sen. Thune and Rep. Johnson’s legislation.  

“Access to clean water in rural areas is critical for South Dakotans,” said Sen. Rounds. “Authorizing a feasibility study for the Western Dakota Regional Water System gets us one step closer to delivering more water West River. I’m pleased to be joining Sen. Thune and Rep. Johnson in this effort.”