West Dam to remain dry for up to two years

South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks (GF&P) officials would like to see West Dam remain dry for up to two years while it finds funding to help fix the pond located on the west side of Custer.

That was the message delivered to the Custer City Council at its Monday night meeting by city community development director Rex Harris. Harris said GF&P plans to send an engineer to Custer to study the dam  and would like the silt to be removed from the dam, which is easier to do if it is dry. He said GF&P is also interested in helping with other improvements at the dam, such as the outlet structure, but does not have funding for it at this time.

Harris added South Dakota Department of Transportation (DOT) is studying the material at the bottom of West Dam to see if it will grow grass. DOT has a project coming up near Jewel Cave that will require a lot of fill material, and the material at the bottom of West Dam could be suitable. Alderman Alfred Heinrich said the National Guard may also be interested in helping with West Dam repairs.