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The Black Hills Preservation Project -- Protecting Our Land and Water Supply 💧
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Near Rapid City, South Dakota, mining activity primarily impacts the public lands of the Black Hills National Forest, especially in the Rapid Creek watershed. These activities carry significant consequences for local water quality and natural habitats, prompting both regulatory action and public opposition.
Regulatory action and specific projects
Pactola Reservoir–Rapid Creek Watershed mining ban
In December 2024, the federal government issued a 20-year ban on new mining claims and exploration on 32 square miles of federal land in the Black Hills, about 20 miles west of Rapid City.
The moratorium covers the Pactola Reservoir and its upstream tributaries in the Rapid Creek watershed, which supplies drinking water for Rapid City and Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Important Note: The moratorium came about because people added their names to a petition. Please Join The List
The decision followed requests from Native American tribes and the local community to protect the area from proposed projects, including one by F3 Gold, a Minnesota-based company.
Legacy and recent mining issues
Limestone mine near Piedmont: In late 2025, a limestone mine was approved in Meade County without public input, sparking outrage among residents concerned about the impact on air quality, water, and property values. The lack of county zoning laws allowed the company to proceed without public hearings.
Abandoned mines: Decades of mining in the Black Hills have left a legacy of environmental damage. The former Homestake Gold Mine, for instance, contaminated Whitewood Creek for over a century, creating a federal Superfund site. The region has thousands of abandoned mine sites, many of which still cause pollution.
Environmental and social impacts
Water contamination
Mining poses a major threat to the Black Hills water supply by potentially contaminating surface water and aquifers with toxic substances like arsenic, mercury, and selenium.
The risks extend to the drinking water of Rapid City and potentially to tribal lands and the Missouri River through watersheds like Rapid Creek and the Cheyenne River.
Sacred and cultural sites
For the Lakota people and other Indigenous groups, mining in the Black Hills, or Ȟesápa, desecrates sacred landscapes. This interferes with religious practices and the protection of natural resources tied to traditional beliefs.
The 1872 General Mining Act, which promotes mineral extraction on public lands with minimal oversight, is viewed by Native American advocates as a tool of colonization that disregards tribal interests.
Environmental justice
The impacts of mining often fall disproportionately on Indigenous and low-income communities. As climate change exacerbates drought, mining-related threats to water quality and quantity further intensify environmental justice issues.
Local economy
While mining brings some economic benefits, it can also harm local economies that rely on clean water, tourism, and outdoor recreation. The scarring of the landscape and pollution can negatively impact the area's appeal.
Copyright © 2025 Black Hills Preservation Project
Custer, South Dakota
Black Hills Preservation Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible.
©2025 Black Hills Preservation Project. All rights reserved.
Black Hills Preservation Project
PO Box 9
Custer, SD 57730
Contact Email: blackhills@myyahoo.com
www.blackhillspreservationproject.org
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