STURGIS, S.D. – Bear Butte Lake near Sturgis continues to face low water levels, and state officials say ongoing drought conditions are largely to blame.
According to South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, the lake sits on a small watershed that depends heavily on localized rainfall to replenish water levels. Officials say the area has experienced below-average precipitation for much of the past several years.
While some residents have pointed to a well that was capped about 20 years ago, fisheries officials say drought and limited runoff are the primary reasons the lake remains low.
Efforts to direct water from a nearby treatment system have provided little relief, as dry conditions and evaporation have prevented enough water from reaching the lake.
Game, Fish and Parks officials say there are few options available to restore water levels aside from significant rainfall, adding that the lake’s future depends largely on weather conditions in the months ahead.
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