There were some differences of opinion between legislators on the Joint Committee on Appropriations and state officials over a state funded program to improve the Big Sioux River watershed.

The legislature approved three million dollars for the program this year and Representative Taffy Howard of Rapid City questioned why the Department of Ag and Natural Resources was applying for federal grants..

Bill Smith with DANR says they wanted to leverage the state funding to extend the buffer strip program to other watersheds..

Howard says the department should have done a better job of explaining their intentions..

The questions came up during the Committees review of their east river tour.