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U.S. Fish and Wildlife asks Hand County to record non‑objection so LWCF funds can finance grassland easements
Summary
Eric Alexander of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requested that Hand County commissioners record a statement of non‑objection to allow federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) money to be used for grassland easements in the county; commissioners voted to provide a recorded statement of non‑objection.
Eric Alexander of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service told Hand County commissioners at their June 10 meeting that the agency is seeking local statements of non‑objection to use Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars for grassland easements in South Dakota and, if possible, in Hand County.
Alexander said the Fish and Wildlife Service’s grassland easement program conserves native grasslands and associated wetlands to protect habitat for migratory birds and waterfowl. He told the board the program has high demand — the agency has about 650 landowners on its waiting list for easement offers across eastern South Dakota — and is pursuing an additional funding source beyond the traditional duck‑stamp revenues. Alexander said roughly $14–15 million was available nationally in the current fiscal window that could be allocated to South Dakota projects.
Commissioners asked how the agency prioritizes offers and whether the requested money would be used for wetlands as well as grassland. Alexander said prioritization is based on biological criteria and intact habitat (areas mapped for best available habitat); the LWCF money would be applied to grassland easements only.
Members discussed process and documentation. Alexander said the Fish and Wildlife Service needs a statement of non‑objection from the local elected body recorded in the county minutes; it is not an approval of individual easements but a statement that the county does not object to the use of LWCF funds in the county. Commissioner discussion noted that some counties had provided similar statements to expedite offers for landowners. A motion to create and record a statement of non‑objection was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.
The immediate effect is procedural: a recorded non‑objection allows the agency to include Hand County projects in its LWCF requests and to proceed to the next administrative steps. Alexander emphasized the program goal of turning funding into easement offers to landowners who wish to conserve grassland on their property.
