Letter to the Editor: Cauwels: Keep water clean in South Dakota
Our state receives over $10 million in federal monies to go toward efforts to protect clean water in South Dakota. I am concerned that this money will end up being lost in the shuffle and misallocated elsewhere.
The cause for this is concern is the merging of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources with the Department of Agriculture. The word “environment” is even being dropped from the name. Does this also mean the environment will be overlooked when policy decisions are being made? By combining two groups that often have conflicting roles I’m concerned that big money will win out and the environment and the citizens in this state that rely on clean air and water for healthy living will take a back seat.
We can’t let that happen. I personally hope to see a day where the Big Sioux River is actually clean enough for human contact and I’m afraid this merger is a step in the wrong direction.
Sincerely,
Dr. Nichole M. Cauwels
Brandon
