Western Dakota Regional Water asks Pennington County for continued backing as federal bill advances

Kristen, who identified herself as executive director of the Western Dakota Regional Water System, told the Pennington County Board of Commissioners on June 16 that the regional water project has 52 members and five years of engineering and prefeasibility work behind it. She said a preferred intake and a conceptual transmission plan — a roughly 165‑mile pipeline with several lift stations — has been identified and that the project now requires federal partnership for a full feasibility study.

Kristen said two bills currently moving in Congress include a $10 million cap for Bureau of Reclamation funding; she explained the federal funding would likely require a matching component in the $5–7 million range and that state and local investments already made would be put forward as part of the match. “Your support matters now,” she told commissioners, arguing local endorsement strengthens the project’s standing with the federal delegation and the Bureau of Reclamation.

Commissioners asked technical and financial questions about the timeline, ARPA money already received, how the state ARPA allocation was being used (she said $5.4 million of the $10 million had been spent on prefeasibility work), and whether tribal nations were being meaningfully engaged (she said tribal seats exist on the Western Dakota board and re‑engagement is a priority). Kristen said USGS and other third‑party studies show aquifer recharge shortfalls in parts of western South Dakota and that the region faces persistent drought risk over long cycles.

The takeaways: Western Dakota asked Pennington County to continue membership and investment so that the group can fast‑track a feasibility study if federal action is secured. Commissioners expressed support for proactive planning; no action item requiring immediate county appropriation was taken at the meeting, though commissioners anticipated budget discussions later this year.