White House Cuts Lewis & Clark Funds

Posted on Tuesday, February 5, 2008

The 2009 federal budget proposed by the Bush Administration cuts out funding completely for the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System.

The project is set to receive over 26 million dollars this year. The system will deliver drinking water to towns and cities in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota.

Lewis & Clark Executive Director Troy Larson was stunned by the move.

Larson says they are confident that the congressional delegations from the three states will be able to restore some funding, but the lower starting point makes it more difficult to catch up.

Larson says the project was gaining momentum each year. He says this cut will stretch out the construction even longer.

He says getting water to Sioux Falls by 2012 is still a priority.