FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jan. 6, 2025

Contact: 

Devin O'Dea, Western Policy & Conservation Manager, [email protected]

Rapid City, SD — January 6, 2025 — Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA) commends the Department of the Interior and U.S. Forest Service for the final decision to withdraw 20,510 acres in the Black Hills National Forest from potential mineral exploration and development. The 20-year withdrawal of the Pactola Reservoir and Rapid Creek Watershed is a victory for clean water, wildlife, and the outdoor traditions that are at the heart of South Dakota’s culture and economy. 

“We fully support the Biden administration’s decision to protect the Pactola-Rapid Creek Watershed from the threats posed by mining and other disruptive developments,” said Cody Grewing, Chapter Chair of South Dakota Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “This is a place that holds immense value for hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It's also home to vital habitat for a wide range of species and provides clean drinking water to thousands of South Dakotans."

The 20-year mineral withdrawal, signed by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, will ensure that these lands are protected from new mineral exploration and development. It comes in response to concerns raised by BHA, tribes, local communities, and other conservation organizations following a draft decision from the Forest Service in 2022 approving a proposal to explore for gold near the Pactola Reservoir. This watershed is critical to the region, with its cold, deep waters providing a unique habitat for trout, and its surrounding forest offering some of the best hunting and fishing experiences in the state.

“The Pactola-Rapid Creek Watershed is one of the most important ecological and recreational areas in the Black Hills,” Grewing continued. “The Black Hills are the beating heart of outdoor recreation in South Dakota, with millions of dollars in economic activity and thousands of jobs tied directly to hunting and fishing. This area supports some of the best brown and rainbow trout fishing in the state, as well as important habitat for elk, deer, and other game species. It’s a critical wintering ground and habitat for deer and elk, and it’s a place where families and sportsmen can connect with nature.”

BHA recognizes that some development is inevitable on public lands, but it believes that there are places — like the Pactola-Rapid Creek Watershed — that are simply too valuable to risk. The organization remains committed to the multiple use mandate that governs our public lands and ensuring that the long-term health of fish, wildlife, and ecosystems is prioritized in public land management decisions.

“Mining projects in this region would lead to new access roads that could fragment habitat, disrupt migration corridors, and negatively impact water quality,” Grewing concluded. “We simply cannot afford to jeopardize these resources for short-term economic gain. Quality habitat and clean water are critical to the continued success of South Dakota’s outdoor traditions.”

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers seeks to ensure North America's outdoor heritage of hunting and fishing in a natural setting, through education and work on behalf of wild public lands, waters, and wildlife. To learn more about issues important to BHA’s membership, visit www.backcountryhunters.org/our_issues.