[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 126 (Monday, October 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2005-E2006]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        PACTOLA RESERVOIR REALLOCATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHANIE HERSETH

                            of south dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 3, 2005

  Ms. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the ``Pactola 
Reservoir Reallocation Authorization Act of 2005,'' a bill to authorize 
the Secretary of the Interior to reallocate the costs of the Pactola 
Dam and Reservoir in western South Dakota, in accordance with an 
agreement that has been reached by the affected parties that rely on 
that water.
  The population in and around Rapid City, South Dakota, has 
experienced welcome growth in the past several years. As a result, the 
city is experiencing an increasing demand for municipal water. The city 
relies upon the Pactola Reservoir, constructed by the Bureau of 
Reclamation (BOR) in the central Black Hills mountain range 
approximately 10 miles west of town, for much of its municipal water.
  Another group, the Rapid Valley Water Conservancy District (RVWCD), 
also relies on this reservoir as a source of water for agricultural 
irrigation. As Rapid City's needs for water has increased, the RVWCD's 
demands has gone down.
  The two entities and the BOR have renegotiated their water service 
contract and have agreed to reallocate the costs of the Pactola Dam to 
better reflect the City's growing need for municipal water supply and 
RVWCD's decreasing need for irrigation.
  The BOR is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the 
Pactola Dam and Reservoir, part of the Rapid Valley Unit under

[[Page E2006]]

the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program (Flood Control Act of 1944, PL 
78-534). In 1992, discussions were initiated to renegotiate water 
supply contracts with Rapid City and the Rapid Valley Conservancy 
District to meet municipal, industrial, irrigation, recreation, and 
wildlife needs. An agreement between both parties and the BOR was 
reached in December 2000. This legislation would reallocate the 
benefits and costs of Pactola Dam and Reservoir in accordance with that 
agreement and it must be enacted before the contract can take effect.
  My colleague in the Senate, Senator Tim Johnson, worked to get the 
Pactola Reservoir Reallocation Authorization Act through that chamber 
last week, and I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to 
support this important legislation.

                          ____________________