STURGIS, S.D. – The Meade County Commission has approved a $7,500 contribution that will go toward building a proposed pipeline that would bring water from the Missouri River to Western South Dakota.
The county last week approved the request from the Western Dakota Regional Water System.
Cheryl Chapman, who is executive director of the nonprofit agency, says the county’s contribution would go towards a fundraising drive that would provide 20-percent in matching funds for a one million dollar state grant to kick start a planning and implementation drive for the pipeline.
Chapman says the pipeline is important given the growing population across western South Dakota, which has greatly impacted ground water availability. She says the pipeline would be vital to ensuring water availability during times of extended drought.
So far, Pennington County, the city of New Underwood, West River Water Development District, city of Rapid City and Meade County have contributed funds toward the project.
Meade County’s contribution will come out of the county’s contingency fund.
