This summer state lawmakers will study the South Dakota Supreme Court ruling on the use of non-meandered waters. A recent decision ordered Game, Fish and Parks to remove boat ramps providing access to non-meandered bodies of water over private land. South Dakota Farm Bureau Lobbyist Mike Held says the issue for farmers in the Northeast corner of the state is land that was once considered viable for agricultural use is now under water, but they’re still paying taxes on it.

He says under the present law, farmers do not have control of some of the land, like sloughs, that they rightfully own and are paying taxes on.

Held is hoping the summer study committee will come up with legislation to resolve the problem. He says lawmakers may be able to look at how other states are handling the issue for guidance.

Meandered waters are those bodies greater than 40 acres that are plotted as lakes when the federal government surveyed the land and do not include streams. Non-meandered waters include sloughs or temporary areas of water not surveyed.