SYSTEM
Issue 11, Quarter 4, 2025 WESTERN DAKOTA REGIONAL WATER
2025 Annual Meeting: From Planning into Progress Toward Western South Dakota’s Water Future WDRWS Newsletter
The 2025 Western Dakota Regional Water System Annual Meeting brought together visionaries from across the state and the nation, all committed to building a secure and sustainable water future for Western South Dakota. The fall gathering in Keystone reflected how far the effort has come and the collective determination to turn careful planning into measurable progress.
More than one hundred people attended this year’s meeting, representing member systems, local governments, and key state and federal partners. Their participation underscored the unity and momentum that defines Western Dakota Regional Water System.
The Board of Directors and members remain the driving force behind this work - people who believe in this project because they care deeply about their communities and about South Dakota.
Attorney General Marty Jackley opened the program with remarks that set an optimistic and determined tone. He reminded attendees that water is not simply a resource but the foundation of stability, growth, and opportunity.
Presentations from federal, state, and local partners echoed that theme. Sarah LeFlore of the Secretary’s Indian Water Rights Office emphasized the importance of cooperation and inclusion among
Executive Director Message
Turning Planning into Progress: Tell Washington WDRWS is Ready
The 2025 Annual Meeting in Keystone confirmed that Western South Dakota is united around one goal: a reliable and sustainable water future built on science and collaboration. The Black Hills Aquifer study findings shared by United States Geological Survey hydrologists remind us that while our aquifers are resilient, they are not limitless. Every decision we make must be guided by data and sound planning to ensure future generations have access to clean, dependable water. This year brought significant progress. We achieved legislative approval of our Future Use Permit, advanced engineering design, and expanded our membership across the region. Now we turn to the next critical step, securing federal authorization in 2026 for the Western Dakota Regional Water System Feasibility Study through the Bureau of Reclamation.
It is essential that members and supporters contact our South Dakota delegation in Washington, D.C. and express their support for this authorization.
Your outreach shows that Western South Dakota stands together and is ready to move forward.
• Contact the South Dakota Delegation:
• Senator John Thune –(202) 224 2321 | thune.senate.gov
• Senator Mike Rounds –(202) 224 5842 | rounds.senate.gov
• Representative Dusty Johnson –(202) 225 2801 | dustyjohnson.house.gov
Resilience is not only about infrastructure. It is about people who plan ahead and work together. Thank you for being part of this effort. Together, we are proving that progress and preparedness go hand in hand.
2025 Annual Meeting: From Planning into Progress Toward Western South Dakota’s Water Future (Cont.)
all jurisdictions. Kevin Smith of the City of Sioux Falls shared how forward-looking planning has strengthened infrastructure and community growth in Eastern South Dakota.
The USGS presented new findings on groundwater in the Black Hills, confirming that while regional aquifers remain resilient, they are not without limits. This research provides a strong, science-based foundation for responsible planning and sustainable growth.
Engineering Team Update: Transmission and Distribution System Conceptual Designs
The Western Dakota Regional Water System engineering team is close to wrapping up the development of the conceptual water transmission system. The current concept, developed by AE2S, Black and Veatch (BV), and KLJ engineers, consists of a 165-mile-long 72-inch diameter pipeline from Lake Oahe to the Rapid City Metro Area. In addition, four pump stations are included to move the water the length of the pipeline and lift the water to the nearly 2,000-foot elevation difference between the lake and Rapid City area. Each pump station will also include storage reservoirs to provide operational and equalization storage.
Local & Regional Support
• Gather resolutions of support from municipalities, counties and Tribes
• Document need, demand and readiness Legislative Development
• Draft sponsors in U.S. Senate (Thune, Rounds) and U.S. House (Johnson)
• Define scope, timeline and cost-share with Reclamation
• Determine project viability and preferred alternative
• Coordinate with delegate staff for introduction Congressional Authorization
Feasibility Study Partnership
• Define scope, timeline and cost-share with Reclamation Dakotas Office
• Public and environmental, technical and financial analysis
• Public and stakeholder input
Engineering partners from AE2S, Black and Veatch, and KLJ presented the conceptual transmission design, showing how Missouri River water could one day reach communities across the region. The design represents a major milestone and positions WDRWS for the next critical step, federal feasibility authorization. The 2025 Annual Meeting reaffirmed that WDRWS has put forth years of steady, disciplined work built on science, partnership, and shared vision. Every step has brought this project closer to reality. The foundation has been laid, the partnerships are strong, and the path forward is clear. Western South Dakota is ready to move confidently from planning to progress.
The engineering team has begun the conceptual design for the distribution system that will deliver water from the transmission system to each WDRWS Member’s water system. The current efforts are focused on developing the hydraulic model which will be used to identify locations for storage reservoirs and pump stations. The team is also developing an operations plan for the overall system from the intake
through treatment, pump stations, the transmission pipelines, to reservoirs and finally to the distribution system which will deliver water to WDRWS Members.
The engineering team previously met with all WDRWS Members to identify the points of water delivery for each
Once the conceptual distribution system is developed, it will be reviewed with each Member to verify the points of delivery, delivery rates, and delivery pressures. The engineers will reach out beginning in early 2026 to schedule those meetings.
PO Box 484
Rapid City, South Dakota 57709
The Time is Now: Advancing Federal Authorization for WDRWS
For over four years, the Western Dakota Regional Water System (WDRWS) has worked toward one goal, building a reliable, sustainable water supply for Western South Dakota. Every meeting, study, and partnership has led to obtaining congressional authorization for a Bureau of Reclamation Feasibility Study.
This authorization is not procedural; it is transformative. It allows the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to formally partner with WDRWS and conduct the in-depth technical, environmental, and economic analyses required to advance toward construction and federal cost sharing. Without it, the project cannot move from planning to implementation.
Western South Dakota’s water future depends on diversification and long-term reliability. Current aquifer systems face increasing demand and periodic drought. A BOR Feasibility Study will quantify
LOOKING AHEAD
those pressures, test regional solutions, and determine the most sustainable path forward for communities, agriculture, and industry.
Federal authorization would elevate WDRWS from a regional effort to a federally recognized infrastructure partnership, aligning it with other successful rural water systems across the Great Plains that have ensured economic growth and resilience for generations.
WDRWS leadership has met frequently with South Dakota’s congressional delegation, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Department of the Interior. While our delegation recognizes the project’s importance, continued engagement from WDRWS members and residents is needed to reinforce the WDRWS message that Western South Dakota stands united in its commitment to cooperation, stewardship, and a secure water future.
Preview 2026 Technical Sessions, legislative outlook, and the next steps for feasibility authorization. Reaffirm call for regional collaboration and membership engagement.
Now is the time for every WDRWS member, community leader, and partner to reach out. Contact your local, state, and federal representatives and express support for authorization of the Bureau of Reclamation Feasibility Study. Each message helps ensure our shared vision becomes reality.
Keep the conversation going:
• Reach out directly.
• Attend local meetings.
• Share the WDRWS message with others in your community.
• Reinforce that Western South Dakota is united behind this effort. WDRWS members are encouraged to continue the dialogue. Ask questions, share information, and engage directly with decision-makers. With persistence and partnership, this conversation will lead to the authorization and construction of a system that serves generations to come.
BY THE NUMBERS
43 Members strong
20,765 acre-feet of water allocation secured under SJR 501
6 key aquifers studied (USGS 2025)
161 miles conceptual transmission route
3 engineering partners
1 shared goal — long-term resilience