Recent Press Releases

Washington, DC —  Senator John Thune today announced $1 million has been transferred from the Bureau of Indian Affairs through the Indian Health Service and the Cheyenne River Sioux Housing Authority to the Army Corps of Engineers to complete the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe emergency water intake project. The existing water intake on the Cheyenne River has faced the risk of running dry due to low water levels and increased sedimentation.

"I'm glad to see the Bureau of Indian Affairs has released these needed funds. For the past few years, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and 14,000 residents in Dewey, Ziebach, and portions of Meade and Perkins counties, have been facing severe water shortages due to on-going drought conditions. A new water intake system will provide better quality water on a more consistent basis for the tribe," said Thune.

"The new water intake system near lake Oahe will provide better quality water on a more consistent basis for the tribe. I was happy to help find a solution to this problem and pleased with Mr. Cason's attention to my request."

Senator Thune intervened with the Department of the Interior on behalf of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to free up the remaining funds needed to complete the $16.5 million emergency water intake project. Thune personally reached out to James Cason, Associate Deputy Secretary of the Interior, regarding the critical nature of completing the new water intake. Thune recently received a letter from Cason announcing that the $1 million would be made available and that, "[t]he Department has acted upon your request to provide funding to support this project."

The Army Corps of Engineers expects to have the new intake system up and running by December. The final $1 million needed to complete this project is in addition to the $8.5 million in emergency federal funding that Senator Thune secured last year along with Senator Tim Johnson.

Senator Thune intervened with the Department of the Interior on behalf of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to free up the last of the needed funding for the water intake project. Recently, Senator Thune called and wrote a letter to Mr. Cason regarding this issue. In a written response to Senator Thune, Mr. Cason announced the money would be made available.

Please click here to view a PDF of the Cason letter.