Bush budget a drought for water projects

Mni Wiconi stays afloat, while other projects sink in proposed budget

By Andrea J. Cook, Journal staff | Tuesday, February 05, 2008

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South Dakota’s expansive Mni Wiconi water project surfaced as the only state water project still afloat in President Bush’s proposed 2009 budget Monday.

Bush’s budget calls for $10 million for maintenance and operation and $16.24 million for construction.

“That’s a real blow,” said Mike Watson of Helena, Mont., head engineer for the Oglala Sioux Tribe, which is the lead sponsoring agency for Mni Wiconi.

Watson said the President’s recommendation of $16.4 million is a step down for a project that is 80 percent complete.

Bush’s 2009 request is about $7 million short of his 2008 request for Mni Wiconi, Watson said.

Congress allocated $28 million for Mni Wiconi in the omnibus spending bill passed in December.

Once completed, the project will carry water to three Native American reservations and nine West River counties.

“The project features that are coming now are the projects that actually bring water to people,” he said.

Up to this point, much of the project has involved building big pipelines and water treatment plants and intake plants, Watson said.

“We have gotten water to some individuals, but this last 20 percent will get more water to more individuals than anything up to this point,” he said. “So, it’s hard when the administration lowers its budget substantially from the previous year.” 

Along with shorting Mni Wiconi, Bush’s $3.1 trillion budget turns off the funding tap for the giant Lewis & Clark Rural Water Project and a small Perkins County water project.

The Bush budget prompted sharp responses from the state’s congressional delegation.

“I am shocked to see that the White House has zeroed out federal funding for the Lewis and Clark project,” Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., said.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., said it is unacceptable for the president to propose zero funding for the Lewis and Clark project that will serve 300,000 people in 20 communities in three states.

“Lewis & Clark proposed a $35 million budget from the federal government this year to keep the project on track,” Thune said.

Lewis & Clark received $26.58 million from Congress for 2008.

Congress also flowed $2.95 million into the Perkins County water project, according to Paul Adcock, manager of the Perkins County Rural Water System.

Adcock said it was no surprise that his water system was omitted from the president’s budget.

“We have to strictly rely upon Congress,” Adcock said.

Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., echoed Johnson’s and Thune’s pledges to restore funding for the water projects.

“Budgets are all about priorities and making tough decisions, and unfortunately, President Bush has clearly demonstrated with this budget that he lacks understanding of the needs or priorities of South Dakotans,” Herseth Sandlin said.

Contact Andrea Cook at 394-8423 or andrea.cook@rapidcityjournal.com