Forest Chief Opposes Land Swap for New South Dakota Park
RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The supervisor of the Black Hills National Forest is opposing a proposed land swap to pave the way for a new South Dakota state park.
Legislation in Congress would authorize an exchange of nearly 2,000 acres of federal land in the areas of Spearfish Canyon and Bismarck Lake for almost 2,000 acres of state-owned land.
Forest Supervisor Mark Van Every tells the Rapid City Journal the forest has invested nearly $1.2 million in improvements at the lake and canyon in recent years.
He says the Forest Service also would lose about $12,000 in annual net receipts from three campgrounds that would be transferred to the state.
Additional opposition is coming from the Rosebud Sioux and the Great Plains Tribal Chairman's Association. The Spearfish Canyon Foundation favors the land exchange.
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