Council approves three‑year walk‑in hunting access agreement with South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks

City staff recommended the City of Aberdeen enter a three‑year hunting access and habitat agreement with the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department for a 40‑acre city parcel north of Aberdeen, near the water treatment plant. The council approved the contract by roll call after a brief presentation and discussion.

City Manager Dave introduced the item and said the parcel — historically used for gravel harvesting and later remediated — had no other planned city use and could provide recreational access. Joe Galbraith, regional supervisor for the Department of Game, Fish and Parks, described the state’s walk‑in area program, which leases parcels for hunting and lists properties in the department’s hunting atlas. Galbraith said the area is a wetland/slough suited for ducks and game and noted the county had already enrolled an adjacent 20‑acre parcel in the walk‑in program. "Every acre counts," Galbraith said, noting Brown County manages thousands of acres through the program.

Galbraith also described a recently mowed walking trail at Willow Dam (northwest of town along Highway 10) that the department maintains to give residents recreational access; staff said the trail will be mowed several times a year and that shore‑fishing opportunities exist at Willow Dam, which the department stocks periodically. Councilmembers thanked the department and approved the motion to enter the agreement.

The council closed the item by voting by roll call; staff and the airport board had recommended approval of related technical agreements earlier in the meeting.