Water, Natural Resources & Energy Minutes

Key Leaders Roundtable (KLR)  Subcommittee Meeting

Group 3: Water, Natural Resources, Energy

Minutes of 12/17/12

Members Present: Courtney De La Rosa, Paula Gregg, Richard Vasgaard, Mark Tubbs, Myron Williams, Wayne Smith, Michael Schmidt, Jeff Zimprich, Jim Faulstich, David Niemi , Marlee Cordell, Angela Ehlers, Mike Traxinger, Peter Bauman, Silvia Christensen.

Members Absent: Duane Schneider, Laron Krause, Kathy Zander.

Courtney De La Rosa and Paula Gregg, SDDA, began the meeting by explaining the role and purpose of the KLR subcommittee. Discussion was held on the 2011 & 2012 KLR pertaining to water, natural resources, and energy.  Following introductions by committee members, a committee chairperson and secretary were selected. Jim Faulstich nominated Angela Ehlers as the Committee Chairperson. Wayne Smith moved for nominations to cease. Myron Williams seconded. Nomination prevailed by unanimous voice vote. Paula Gregg, SDDA, was asked to be the Secretary.

Angela Ehlers reviewed the agenda. The committee discussed a needs assessment and critical issues pertaining to South Dakota water, natural resources, and energy. (see attached)

The committee, at the direction of SDDA, is asked to identify objectives to work on as a committee and report back to the KLR in June 2013.  Action steps, responsibilities, timeline, resources, and potential barriers were discussed for each objective. The objectives are:

1.      Producers understand policies & procedures involved with surface use and damage for any energy/water development.

2.      Review State Water Laws.

3.      SD landowners/operators understand the emerging farming and ranching practices that improve their use of their natural resources for the long term.

4.      SD has permanent adequate funding source for natural resource improvement and sustainability of our natural resources.

5.      Monitor, Encourage, & Develop Mechanisms to address the loss of native sod & loss of land to non-agricultural uses.

Angela Ehlers volunteered to talk with DENR staff to arrange a tutorial meeting with the committee about the State’s water rights laws and water monitoring systems.

Pete Bauman volunteered to talk with SDSU Ag Extension about adding a clearinghouse of information for land owners and sub-surface agreements to their website.

Courtney De La Rosa will visit with Dianne Best, Attorney General Office, on subsurface agreements.

All committee members are asked to continue to work on the objectives and come up with ideas for following through. The next meeting will be February 14, 2013, 3:00 p.m. CST, via video teleconference.

Meeting Adjourned.

Respectfully submitted by Paula Gregg, Finance Program Specialist, SDDA.