RAPID CITY, S.D. – Water releases from Pactola Reservoir will be cut nearly in half beginning today as officials work to conserve water and protect Rapid Creek’s trout population ahead of the spawning season.
The Bureau of Reclamation says releases will drop from 30 to 15 cubic feet per second and remain at that level through the winter. Officials say the move comes as inflows into the reservoir remain well below average following another year of limited snowpack. Pactola Reservoir is currently about 70 percent full.
Bureau officials say lowering flows now will allow Rapid Creek to stabilize before brown trout begin spawning later this month, helping reduce the risk of eggs being exposed by changing water levels. The decision was made in coordination with the City of Rapid City and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
Some anglers have expressed concerns that the reduced flows could impact portions of the creek known as loss zones, but city officials say the change will not affect Rapid City’s municipal water supply. The city remains under an alert conservation status, with outdoor watering restrictions still in place. Officials will continue monitoring snowpack and reservoir conditions throughout the winter and reassess flow levels next spring.
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