To the editor:

Remembering President Jimmy Carter...

Jimmy Carter was elected President in 1976. During the 60s and 70s, South Dakota was planning for the use of water from the Missouri River reservoirs in the state. The projects were under the jurisdiction of the federal Bureau of Reclamation, specifically for irrigation. This plan was not supported by the farmers in the area.

President Carter’s administration initiated a change in policy to direct funding to construct rural water pipelines to serve cities, towns, farms, and ranches. This policy change was later confirmed in legislation.

Working with the S.D. congressional delegation, the farmers and towns in northeast South Dakota, the WEB Rural Water System was the first project constructed under the new federal policy initiated under Jimmy Carter’s administration.

Today, several rural water pipelines are delivering Missouri River water to thousands of residents along with farms and ranches across South Dakota.

George Piper
Huron