Water quality in South Dakota’s Lewis and Clark watershed is getting a boost. The state Board of Water and Natural Resources recently approved a $130,000 grant from the South Dakota’s Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program to the Randall Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Association, Inc., to restore and maintain water quality in the watershed, according to the Press & Dakotan.
The funding, which was approved when the board met Jan. 3-4 in Pierre, S.D., was recommended by Gov. Mike Rounds.
"Working to protect the water quality in the Lewis and Clark Reservoir is important for preserving one of our great natural resources," Rounds said. "Taking steps on a watershed basis will help ensure these waters are protected for future generations."
The project, estimated at a total cost of $1,442,240, adds an additional 691,000 acres in Charles Mix, Douglas, Hutchinson, Bon Homme, Davison, Aurora and Yankton counties to an earlier Corsica Lake watershed project. The funds will help construct manure management systems for livestock operations and limit other sources of nonpoint source pollution, the newspaper reported.
South Dakota’s Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program provides loans and grants for water, wastewater and watershed projects statewide. Revenues come from dedicated water funds in the state Water and Environment Fund. Water and Environment Funds are appropriated annually to the program through the Governor's Omnibus Water Funding Bill.
Source: Press & Dakotan
