A bill that would set up nine river basin districts in South Dakota survived a hoghouse attempt in the Senate Ag & Natural Resources Committee today.  The bill (SB3) came out of a yearlong study of the state’s drainage laws and current watershed management.  Senator Jason Frerichs of Wilmot, one of the prime sponsors, said it is too early in the process to rewrite the bill.

Frerichs says the bill is pretty complete in setting up those river basins.

Senator Bob Ewing of Sturgis offered the hoghouse amendment, which would have set up one pilot project instead of the nine basin districts.
Ewing says he doesn’t think the bill fits the needs of western South Dakota.

The bill received a do pass recommendation on a six to three vote.