PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) announced that the Board of Water and Natural Resources has approved $6,079,593.14 in additional American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding for water quality and drinking water projects in South Dakota.
The funding consists of $6,079,593.14 in ARPA grant funds to be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
“These historic investments in South Dakota’s water resources help keep our state strong, safe, Funds were awarded to the following projects:
- The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources received an additional $3,500,000 in ARPA grant funds for the Riparian Buffer Initiative (RBI). The program provides payments to landowners who implement best management practices to improve water quality and reduce nonpoint source pollution. To date, RBI has funded 153 signed riparian buffer contracts protecting more than 320 miles of streambanks and lake shoreline across South Dakota. Previous funding was approved in April 2022, June 2024, and January 2026. The additional grant award brings the total ARPA funding for RBI to $10,500,000.
- Randall Community Water District received an additional $1,289,800 in ARPA grant funds to support system expansion needed to meet increasing customer demand and provide additional water supply to the City of Mitchell. The project includes approximately 38 miles of transmission pipeline, booster stations, storage facilities, and upgrades to the Platte Water Treatment Plant. Previous ARPA funding was approved in June 2022, June 2024, May 2025, March 2026, and September 2026. The additional grant award brings the ARPA grant total for this project to $25,262,515.60.
- Shared Resources received an additional $1,289,793.14 in ARPA grant funds for its regional water supply project, which includes an 8 million gallon per day water treatment plant, well field, distribution pipeline, and two storage tanks. Shared Resources is a joint effort between Minnehaha Community Water Corporation and the Big Sioux Community Water System. Previous ARPA funding was approved in April 2022, June 2024, May 2025, January 2026, June 2026, and September 2026. The additional grant award brings the ARPA grant total for this project to an amount not to exceed $53,444,031.98.
A total of 199 projects received ARPA assistance statewide.
These investments helped leverage approximately $1.7 billion in total statewide infrastructure improvements, including drinking water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, and water quality protection efforts.
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