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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 would protect more than twenty thousand acres of our critical and beloved watershed, including Jenny Gulch, which is threatened by F3’s proposed gold exploration. What we need to bring this 20-year protection to fruition are YOUR comments, and those of your family, friends, business associates, and everyone who loves and depends on this resource. Those comments must be submitted by Monday, October 21st (Link to Comment Page). AND, we’re having a party! On Tuesday, October 8th, join us from 5:30-8pm for the “Comment Jam” with live music from Mike Lemay, tasty hors d’oeuvres from Bashful Bison Deli, and cold beverages at Hay Camp Brewing Company, 601 Kansas City St. in Rapid City. Join us to celebrate this milestone and this important opportunity to unify our voices to say YES! YES, we want to protect 20K+ acres for 20-years, and more.
In the meantime, here is the important information on how to comment:
Thank you for your ongoing support! We hope to see you on October 8th! Respectfully, The Rapid Creek Watershed Action Team For more information email us at [email protected] 
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 We've Been Busy as Beavers!
Update on the Mineral Withdrawal for Pactola Can you believe it has been just over a year since the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management announced the proposed Pactola-area mineral withdrawal that would protect 20K plus acres for 20 years? That was a busy time of education, engagement, meetings, and comment-writing. BUT–it’s not a done deal yet. Sometime this summer (tomorrow? Next month?), the Forest Service will issue a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed withdrawal. The EA lays out the potential impacts (in this case, prevention of impacts) should the withdrawal be granted. At that time, we’ll need to generate thousands of comments in favor of the withdrawal to help get this across the finish line, so keep talking to your friends, business associates, customers, and others about protecting Pactola, and protecting the Rapid Creek Watershed!  While we’ve been not-so-patiently waiting for the next step of the process, we’ve also been busy doing our homework; specifically, our economics of tourism and recreation homework. The Economic information PDF can be seen here. 
Water Quality Monitoring Opportunity Is there a body of water you visit at least once a month (or want to)? Are you interested in water quality? There is a growing group of engaged citizens providing water quality data to the State of South Dakota's Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources (DANR) that helps our state comply with Clean Water Act requirements. It’s easy to do, and the state provides a half-day training in Rapid City for individuals or groups. Your monthly sampling results (including TSS–Total Suspended Solids and E. Coli) are uploaded and featured alongside DANR staff sampling to help provide a clearer picture of water quality throughout the state. You can visit the map and view current sampling sites and data at: https://apps.sd.gov/NR92WQMAP If you’re interested in learning more or setting up a training session, please contact Rebecca at (605) 343-1309 or [email protected], and she’ll pass your contact information along to the DANR water quality folks in Rapid City. Information Booth Activities In addition to patiently waiting, in the first quarter of 2024, we told our story to outdoor enthusiasts at the Black Hills Sports Show & Expo and gained more petition signatures.  Our beautiful information booth to protect our beautiful Mniluzahan (Rapid Creek). Photo by Carla Rae Marshall In national outdoor recreation news. . . The U.S. House of Representatives in April passed H.R. 6492, the Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act (EXPLORE) Act, a measure to support outdoor recreation. It followed passage in the Senate last year of S.873, America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA),Both actions signal the potential to advance policies supporting the outdoor recreation industry. The passage of the EXPLORE Act through the House marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities, improve public land access, and support economic growth in rural communities. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, “bipartisan collaboration and stakeholder engagement will be essential in realizing its potential benefits for individuals, businesses, and the environment.” Overall, the outdoor market has experienced significant growth in both sales and participation since 2020, the year the COVID pandemic began. The retail market has gained more than $5.3 billion in sales and 15 million new participants since 2020, according to the Association. In April 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics Outdoor Recreation Sub-Account reported that outdoor recreation in South Dakota employed 18,000 jobs, a 6.1 percent increase over the previous year. [link to source: https://apps.bea.gov/scb/issues/2024/04-april/0424-outdoor-recreation.htm  Trout, Not Trash! And, Becoming a Beaver Believer… In April, our friends at Black Hills Flyfishers (BHFF) received a Rapid City Sustainability Award for their efforts to clean up Rapid Creek. Once an occasional activity, they’re now regular monthly meet-ups to beautify a section of the creek in Rapid City. Volunteers show up to clean up refuse along the riverbank, and folks with waders help pull trash from the creek itself. You can find their schedule of clean-ups on social media: Clean up Rapid Creek on Facebook and @troutnottrash on Instagram. In early May, BHFF also hosted an online presentation from author Ben Goldfarb, whose book Eager tells the story of the much-maligned rodent whose tree-cutting and engineering activities can put them squarely in the crosshairs of landowners and city managers. But beavers can also be great assets to watersheds, helping to slow down water and increase infiltration, and creating more diverse habitat for fish and wildlife. BHFF is planning further presentations in the coming months to help convert more local “beaver believers.” Another Successful World Water Day Celebration!
On March 23rd we partnered with Black Hills Clean Water Alliance, NDN Collective, Dakota Angler & Outfitter, and others to help celebrate this year's World Water Day. This year our event drew about 75 people from all over the Black Hills. Thank you to all our supporters, those who donated food and silent auction items, and to the volunteers -- you helped make this year's WWD celebration memorable! RCWA Board Changes And last but not least, there has been a change on the RCWA Board of Directors. Thank you to James Preston for his time serving as RCWA chair these past few years. We wish him well in his future endeavors. Rebecca Terk, a longtime board member, will be our acting chair as we navigate this rapidly changing landscape. Keep in Touch! Follow us on social media @rapidcreekwatershed, or drop us a line: [email protected]. Sincerely, RCWA Board: Rebecca Terk, Justin Herreman, Suzanne Iudicello, and Carla Rae Marshall
With this reminder of our mission, let's get straight to the point: Can you lend a few hours of your time at our information booth at this year's Black Hills Sports Show and Expo here in Rapid City this coming weekend? This event aligns perfectly with our mission, attracting Recreation Enthusiasts, Water Lovers, and Wildlife Watchers alike. You'll find many fantastic vendors, just like us, whom you can visit as well. 😊 This year, our focus is on raising awareness among those who cherish recreation in the Black Hills, whether they're locals or tourists. We want them to know about the extraction companies pursuing gold, lithium, and other minerals that will directly affect our watershed. These projects have far-reaching consequences for our cherished recreational spaces, culturally significant sites, and wildlife ecosystems. These aren't your typical hobby miners; they are global exploration companies that can sell their mining claims to the highest bidder for large-scale mining in the future. This prospect threatens to devastate large areas of Black Hills land, deplete our precious water resources, and harm natural ecosystems. The mere thought is heart-wrenching, and that's why we are fully committed to safeguarding the watershed. Is water more valuable than mining? Absolutely! Clean water is essential for quality recreation, food production, and overall health. Don't you agree? In 2022, recreation in South Dakota contributed more than $1.7 billion to the State's GDP as reported by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Outdoor recreation growth here has exceeded the national average. Conversely, the mining sector, on a national average, employed around 574,200 jobs in 2022, comprising 0.4 percent of all total nonfarm employees and contributing 1.9 percent to the GDP. It's important to note that on Public domain lands, these companies pay only $1 per acre per year as a "rental" fee. Furthermore, they freely tap into water wells approved by the state or purchase water from local municipalities for their exploration and mining ventures.
To volunteer, please reach out to us at [email protected] and let us know your available time slot—1, 2, or 3 hours will work just fine. Our RCWA board members are juggling many responsibilities, so any time you can contribute will be immensely valued. We'll be in Booth 204 (Vendor booth map). Let's come together to protect our water, wildlife, and the joy of recreation in the Black Hills! We'll see you soon. Thank You!
Can't help this time. Your generous donations are always greatly appreciated.
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