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Western Dakota regional water project: executive director outlines $2 billion feasibility effort
Summary
Kristen Conzett, executive director of Western Dakota Regional Water, told the Box Elder council the regional plan to import Missouri River water is at the feasibility/authorization stage and would be a multi-billion-dollar, multistate undertaking requiring federal feasibility study and congressional authorization.
Kristen Conzett, executive director of Western Dakota Regional Water, briefed the council on a long-range effort to bring Missouri River water to western South Dakota, framing it as a multi-decade initiative that will need federal feasibility study, congressional authorization and significant capital.
Conzett described drought conditions across western South Dakota and said the regional group has pooled members’ water rights and pursued studies with the South Dakota School of Mines and USGS to underpin a federal feasibility application. "We're talking roughly a $2,000,000,000 project," she said, emphasizing the scale and the need to prepare funding, permitting and technical documentation before federal agencies act.
She explained that the Bureau of Reclamation (if authorized by Congress) would perform the official feasibility study required for federal investment, and that Congressional staffers were pursuing authorization language to allow that study. Conzett said Western Dakota has secured a mix of funding sources to date — including ARPA money and state grants — and that membership contributions and matching funds will be important in later stages.
Conzett noted hydrological studies and aquifer analysis showing increasing demand and strain on the regional aquifers; she said the membership threshold and permit totals have been updated in recent months and that the organization is advancing toward required water-permit thresholds. She described membership growth (43 active members) and stressed that preparation now is intended to secure long-term water supplies for the Black Hills region.
Council members thanked the presenter and noted the long time horizon for similar projects elsewhere, saying continued local engagement will be necessary. No city vote or funding commitment occurred at this meeting.
Because multiple slide figures in the presentation were read quickly, the council packet should be consulted for exact technical figures; attendees seeking details were told Conzett would provide slides on request.
