 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
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