South Dakota's U.S. Senators are introducing a bill in Congress to study the possibility of delivering Missouri River water to West River communities.
It’s being brought by Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds.
The bill includes $10 million dollars for the Bureau of Reclamation to look into the feasibility of the proposal, according to a statement from the Western Dakota Regional Water System. This study is required before federal approval of the project can be granted.
“This legislation is a critical step toward long-term water reliability for western South Dakota,” said Kristin Conzet, Executive Director of the Western Dakota Regional Water System. “We appreciate the leadership of Senators Thune and Rounds in advancing federal authorization of a Bureau of Reclamation feasibility study, which moves this effort from concept to confirmation and ensures there is a practical path forward for addressing western South Dakota’s regional water challenges.”
The Western Dakota Regional Water System has spent years on preliminary work to pave the way for this federal study.
The need for more sustainable water supply options West River has grown in recent years amid continued development in the Black Hills area.
Thune introduced similar legislation in 2024 but it was never acted upon in committee.