NOTICE OF APPLICATION NOS. 8439-3 AND 8440-3 • Grant-Roberts Rural Water

NOTICE OF APPLICATION

NOS. 8439-3 AND 8440-3

Notice is given that Grant-Roberts Rural Water System Inc., c/o Brent Hoffmann, PO Box 145, Milbank SD  57252 has filed the following water permit and future use permit applications.  Application No. 8439-3 proposes to increase the diversion rate and annual volume authorized by Water Right No. 6654-3 and Water Permit No. 8321-3.  Water Right No. 6654-3 authorizes 1,074 acre-feet of water annually at a maximum pump rate of 3.56 cubic feet of water per second (cfs) from six wells completed into the Antelope Valley Aquifer located in the NE 1/4 SE 1/4, S 1/2 NE 1/4, NE 1/4 NW 1/4 Section 10-T119N-R51W.  Water Permit No. 8321-3 authorizes an additional 307 acre-feet of water from the six wells authorized by No. 6654-3 for a combined total of 1,381 acre-feet. This application is requesting an additional 1.58 cfs and an additional 614 acre-feet of annual volume from the six existing wells described above. This application, if approved, Water Permit No. 8321-3, and Water Right No. 6654-3 combined would authorize a total of 5.14 cfs and 1,995 acre-feet of water annually from the six existing wells for rural water system use.

Application No. 8440-3 requests to appropriate and reserve for future use 767 acre-feet annually from the Antelope Valley Aquifer. The area to be reserved for future water use is located in the N 1/2, SE 1/4 Section 10 and W 1/2 SW 1/4 Section 11; all in T119N-R51W.  The water is to be reserved for future water supplies for the rural water system. This application does not authorize construction of works or application of water to beneficial use.  

The rural water system serves users in Codington, Grant, Roberts and Deuel Counties in South Dakota and Lac Qui Parle and Big Stone Counties in Minnesota. In South Dakota this includes the communities of South Shore, Stockholm, Strandburg, Wilmot, Twin Brooks, Big Stone City, Corona and Marvin. The site of the existing well field and the area to be reserved for future use is located one mile north of South Shore, SD.  

Pursuant to SDCL 46-2A-2, the Chief Engineer recommends APPROVAL of Application Nos. 8439-3 and 8440-3 with qualifications because 1) unappropriated water is available, 2 ) existing rights will not be unlawfully impaired, 3) it is a beneficial use of water, and 4) it is in the public interest.  The Chief Engineer’s recommendations with qualifications, the applications, and staff report are available at http://denr.sd.gov/public or contact Ron Duvall for this information, or other information, at the Water Rights Program address provided below.  

Any person interested in opposing or supporting the applications or recommendations must file a written petition with BOTH the applicant and Chief Engineer. The applicant must file a petition if contesting the Chief Engineer’s recommendations. The Chief Engineer’s address is "Water Rights Program, Foss Building, 523 E Capitol, Pierre SD 57501 (605 773-3352)” and the applicant’s mailing address is given above.  A petition filed by either an interested person or the applicant must be filed by November 9, 2020.

The petition may be informal but must include a statement describing the petitioner’s interest in the applications, the petitioner’s reasons for opposing or supporting the applications, and the signature and mailing address of the petitioner or the petitioner’s legal counsel, if legal counsel is obtained.  

If the applicant does not contest the recommendations of the Chief Engineer and no petition to oppose the applications is received, the Chief Engineer shall act on the applications pursuant to the recommendations with no hearing held before the Water Management Board. If a petition opposing the applications or contesting the recommendations is filed, then a hearing will be scheduled, and the Water Management Board will consider these applications. Notice of the hearing will be given to the applicant and any person filing a petition.