August 11, 2025 - ... PACTOLA RESERVOIR, S.D. – Water levels in this major source of drinking water for Rapid City were so low this spring that city leaders implemented water-use restrictions weeks earlier than normal and the state delayed installation of public boat docks...

April 22, 2026 - Knowing how to sell big government ... is “one of the only major regions in the state without a reliable, long-term water supply to meet community, rural, agricultural, economical, tribal, and national defense needs.”...

May 4, 2026 - Due to low water levels in Pactola Reservoir and a forecast of continued drought, Rapid City officials in April enacted summer water use restrictions two months earlier than usual.

West Dakota Water Development District (WDWDD) applied for and received a future use permit for Missouri River water to be piped to western South Dakota — some day. Somebody from the City — I don’t know who it was — said, ‘Well, we’re going to do the same thing.’ So shortly after that future use permit was obtained, that representative from the City did just that. Because of this, the City of Rapid City has had a future use permit since the 1970s permitting us to take roughly 28,000 thousand acre-feet of water annually from the Missouri River.

May 4, 2023 - Experts at South Dakota Mines ... precipitation; however, the study also indicated that demand for water could already exceed supply during a prolonged drought....

January 3, 2024 - RAPID CITY—“Mni Wiconi,” ... putting a pipeline through Lakota Country, threatening the destruction cultural sites and the contamination of the Missouri River watershed....

September 5, 2025 - If all entities with senior rights were to utilize their full allocations, entities with junior rights would be reduced or cut off before Rapid City. Boyda stated that the city’s balanced mix of water sources provides flexibility to deliver reliable water service, even during periods of drought. This is paired with responsible water use and watering restrictions. The city also continues to pursue the acquisition of senior surface water rights to strengthen long-term resilience. A potential future project to bring water from the Missouri River would allow the city to access its future-use water rights.

February 24, 2026 - The researchers say the Rapid City region will eventually need more water than it gets from existing sources in the Black Hills. Credit Missouri River Water Allotment Study for Future Use Water Permit 1443-2 / SD School of Mines & Technology

May 4, 2022 - PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota Water Management Board on Wednesday acknowledged the current surge of people moving into the area east of Rapid City. The board granted Rapid Valley Sanitary District a future-use permit to draw up to 6,050 acre-feet of water per year from Oahe Reservoir on the Missouri River, some 100 […]

November 14, 2023 - South Dakota. WDRWS would transport water to western South Dakota, including Rapid City. Dakota Mainstem · would serve various communities in eastern South Dakota. While there is ample Missouri River water to supply

April 26, 2026 - North Dakota's plan to divert water from the Missouri River could put downstream agriculture, water supplies and power plants at risk.

May 5, 2026 - This system was formed in September 2021 largely to pursue the data, political support and funding to build a 72-inch pipeline about 161 miles from the Missouri River to the Black Hills region. The system is steadily gaining support from the state and federal governments, and is pursuing a $13 million feasibility study that is a requirement of a large project under the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. So far, 56 municipalities or water systems from Winner to Fort Pierre to Rapid City have signed on as partners in the project and could receive water from the project once operational, said Kristen Conzet, executive director of the system.

July 19, 2020 - After a year of study, the Forest Service has released the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) on the Pactola Reservoir - Rapid Creek Watershed Withdrawal ( Link to Project Page ). That proposal...

May 1, 2025 - Due to water levels in Pactola Reservoir, the City of Rapid City is implementing water restrictions a month early — starting May 1. It’s the first time in over 15 years the city has extended water conservation efforts.

May 4, 2026 - This system was formed in September 2021 largely to pursue the data, political support and funding to build a 72-inch pipeline about 161 miles from the Missouri River to the Black Hills region. The system is steadily gaining support from the state and federal governments, and is pursuing a $13 million feasibility study that is a requirement of a large project under the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. So far, 56 municipalities or water systems from Winner to Fort Pierre to Rapid City have signed on as partners in the project and could receive water from the project once operational, said Kristen Conzet, executive director of the system.

November 17, 2019 - The Rapid City Journal reports Kurt Katzenstein presented his findings to the West Dakota Water Development District last week. Katzenstein is an associate professor of geology and geological engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. He says the 171-mile pipeline could cost up to $1.87 billion, making it a long-term idea that could require funding from Congress. Katzenstein says projections indicate that the Rapid City area could have enough water from local sources to sustainably meet demand for the next 100 years if average precipitation levels prevail.

1 week ago - Rapid City now obtains much of its power from the Missouri dams and importing it from elsewhere. Following the shut down of the plants dependent on coal, electrical rates have increased. The city has had to spend more to import electricity over a longer distance. Rapid City obtains most of its water ...

April 29, 2025 - pdf 2027 Proposed City Budget(15.85 MB) · Downtown Landscape Master Plan Survey