Rapid Creek Watershed Action kicks off petition drive to ensure watershed protection

Clean water activists kick off a petition drive Tuesday to make a watershed a recreation area.

​RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) -Clean water activists want Senator John Thune, Senator Mike Rounds and Representative Dusty Johnson to sponsor legislation to designate the Rapid Creek water shed west of Rapid City as a recreation area and to withdraw mineral claims in the area.

Justin Herreman, the spokesperson of the Rapid Creek Watershed Action, said it would protect the water supply for Rapid City and Box Elder as well as protect a Lakota cultural site.

He says 25 percent of this water shed has mining claims on it.

Herreman said it can also help the local economy. .... read more.