“We are concerned that South Dakota is not participating in this project,” The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wrote in a public comment, underscoring the radio silence of state agencies on the issue.
GFP, which oversees the property as part of the executive branch, denied a January 2023 request from South Dakota News Watch to view a list of people who stayed at Valhalla between 2020 and 2022.
“The majority of the fish coming up dead is mainly because of the lack of oxygen they have. The rocks really hurt the fishery,” Wolf said of the rocks that were placed by the dam a few years ago.
He’s asking to shorten the season to nine days starting Dec. 1, according to his petition that will be considered during Thursday’s regular GFP Commission meeting.
Since their introduction in the state less than a decade ago, zebra mussels have found their way into 13 bodies of water across South Dakota, most notably leaping westward into Pactola Reservoir last month. Some interest groups think the Department of Game, Fish and Parks could be doing more to slow the spread.
For the city to sell some of the land along the lake, it would require a public vote per state law. The city currently owns 75% of land along the lake.
Residents concerned with overcrowding and the current allotment of tags to non-residents were heard, though commissioners feel more time can provide for a better solution.
