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- South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks to manage Belle Fourche Reservoir Wildlife Management Areas
News Release Archive
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks to manage Belle Fourche Reservoir Wildlife Management Areas
Media Contact:
Patience Mosbrucker, 701-221-1204, pmosbrucker@usbr.gov
For Release: September 04, 2020
RAPID CITY, South Dakota - The Bureau of Reclamation and South Dakota Game Fish and Parks (SDGF&P) have entered into a new management agreement for Belle Fourche Reservoir.
“Reclamation and Game, Fish and Parks began negotiating a new management agreement after the Belle Fourche Reservoir Resource Management Plan was finalized in January of 2020,” said Joe Hall, Area Manager for Reclamation’s Dakotas Area Office.
The SDGF&P’s Parks Division will continue to manage Rocky Point Recreation Area and the Wildlife Division will continue to manage the Wildlife Management Area below Belle Fourche Dam as well as assume management responsibility for approximately 4,000 acres on the north end of Belle Fourche Reservoir. Reclamation previously directly managed the northern half of the reservoir.
The Wildlife Division is planning to perform prescribed fire, possibly implement a rotational grazing program, plant food plots and shelterbelts to improve the wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities.
“Reclamation is pleased to have a managing partner on those wildlife lands at Belle Fourche Reservoir and this partnership allows Reclamation and the Game, Fish and Parks to cost share for improvements and maintenance on those lands as well as increases law enforcement on those lands,” said Hall. “Game Fish and Parks will now have primary law enforcement jurisdiction on all wildlife lands at the Reservoir.”
For more information regarding this management transfer or other issues pertaining to Belle Fourche Reservoir, call Jay Leasure, Bureau of Reclamation, 605-519-5504. For questions related to the Wildlife Area, contact Tyrel Schmelz, South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks at 605-394-6838.
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