Ripples of Change - Increasing Awareness of South Dakota's Water Resources Authored by the Rural Water Center, and the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems, with significant contributions from other stakeholders and collaborators June 20, 2024
What is a White Paper? A white paper is a research-based report that provides a detailed description of a complex topic from the perspective of the author or representing body. Its primary purpose is to help readers understand an issue, thereby assisting them in solving a particular problem or making critical decisions.
Purpose and Context This document is meant to address the very real need for the comprehensive, long-range planning necessary to meet current and future water development needs in South Dakota. Access to clean, plentiful, and reliable water has been, and will continue to be, a key requirement for economic growth. However, our current resources and the delivery systems that supply this critical resource are rapidly nearing capacity in many instances. History has shown that the development and construction of regional water supplies can take decades to bring to completion. As such, there is a very real need to start planning today so that future growth and prosperity are not hampered by water shortages. “Ripples of Change” aims to build upon ongoing studies, including those conducted by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, which examines obstacles to economic development related to water availability. Additionally, our white paper complements the South Dakota Legislative Research Council’s Issue Paper 2023-05, “The Mighty Missouri: An Overview of River Management and Water Rights,” which explores water development and water rights on the Missouri River.
We have also looked to neighboring states – North Dakota, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska – to glean some of their best and most innovative ideas for water development. While not all of these ideas are directly applicable to South Dakota, they offer valuable insights into alternative approaches to a common issue.
What the White Paper Is Not This white paper is not intended to be an all-inclusive final answer or a negative critique of past practices. It is meant to introduce new ideas and start a conversation about expanding and/or changing our current systems. If you perceive criticism of existing programs, please understand that our intent is to use this document as a tool for constructive dialogue.
Your Role and Call to Action As a recipient of this white paper, we ask you to thoroughly review the document and provide your honest feedback. South Dakota cannot afford to delay this critical conversation and the actions that must follow.
We encourage you to bring this white paper to your governing body—be it a board of directors, city council, or county commission—and consider adopting a formal resolution or statement of support. Your advocacy and support are crucial, and while we do not have all the action items defined, we believe that they will emerge organically as we move forward.
If so requested, we would welcome an opportunity to speak with selected stakeholder groups directly to discuss this matter further. Due to the volume of potential interest, we respectfully ask that requests be made through the appropriate channels (SDARWS and/or RWC) and understand that we may need to prioritize engagements based on the relevance and urgency of the issues at hand.
Thank you for your attention and your commitment to expanding and enhancing water development in South Dakota. We look forward to your feedback and support as we work together to ensure our state’s water resources are utilized to the fullest extent possible.
Water System Depreciation: A Capital Planning Tool for the Well-Managed Community Authored by AE2S Nexus on behalf of the SDARWS Rural Water Center Sponsored by SDARWS, CoBank, and AE2S January 2020
The worksheets herein are intended to serve as a systems’ tool for entry-level capital reserve planning. The cells containing formulas within have not been locked to allow systems to make changes at their sole discretion to their desired approach to system-specific capital reserve planning calculations. By using this workbook, the user agrees that the SDARWS, CoBank, AE2S, and AE2S Nexus are not liable for any damages or claims that may arise from or relate to the use of the tool. Revised 1/28/2020
Succession Planning & Recruitment Authored by Alternative HRD January 2021
Succession planning is an integral part of any organization’s strategic planning process. Succession planning connects the organization to long-term goals and objectives, helps mitigate risk associated with turnover, and cultivates existing talent by matching promising employees with future organizational needs. Succession planning ties to a wide range of human resource management functions, including recruitment, performance management, and training and development.
To assist the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems, Inc., and its member organizations in the succession planning and recruitment processes, Alternative HRD, LLC of Sioux Falls, SD, has prepared this handbook. The information contained in this handbook is intended to provide ideas and guidance but is not intended to provide legal advice or legal opinions on any specific matters.
