Bureau of Reclamation Reduces Pactola Reservoir Water Releases Amid Drought Concerns in Rapid City
The Bureau of Reclamation, in coordination with Rapid City officials, is reducing water releases from Pactola Reservoir by half, from 30 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 15 cfs, starting October 1. This decision is a direct response to a dry summer, lower-than-expected inflows into the reservoir, and an unfavorable winter precipitation forecast. Normally, inflows at this time of year would be around 40 cfs, but they are currently at 23 cfs. Pactola Reservoir is presently at 70% capacity, while Deerfield Reservoir is at 90%. The timing of this reduction is set to coincide with the end of the irrigation season and was specifically chosen to minimize disruption to brown trout spawning, following concerns raised by the Black Hills Fly Fishers. Rapid City's alert conservation status remains in effect.
