Title 46A — WATER MANAGEMENT

A water development district is a political subdivision of this state. A water development district may be established: (1) By the Legislature; or (2) In accordance with the procedure set forth in this chapter. A water development district is recognized as a legal entity on the J…

Each water development district shall promote the conservation, development, and proper management of district water resources, according to district priorities. Each water development district shall serve as a district - wide clearinghouse for water quality and supply projects t…

If a petition proposing the establishment of a water development district is presented to the Board of Water and Natural Resources, the board must determine whether the petition is in compliance with the requirements of this chapter. If the petition is in compliance, the board mu…

The question regarding the establishment of a water development district must be presented upon a separate ballot, prepared by the Board of Water and Natural Resources. The ballot must, insofar as applicable, be in the form prescribed by the general election laws. Source: SL 1984…

Except as otherwise provided, an election to form a water development district must be conducted, canvassed, recounted, and contested, insofar as applicable, in accordance with the general election laws of this state. The Board of Water and Natural Resources may, in accordance wi…

If a municipality is included within the boundaries of a proposed water development district, the municipality constitutes a separate election district. The portion of any county that is wholly or partially included within the boundaries of a proposed water development district, …

The Board of Water and Natural Resources shall, by resolution, establish a water development district consisting of those election districts in which the requisite vote of approval was cast. Any election district included in the establishment of a water development district, in a…

If all or some of the election districts within a proposed water development district cast sufficient votes to become a water development district, as provided for in this chapter, the Board of Water and Natural Resources must, by resolution, establish the water development distr…

After a water development district has been established pursuant to chapters 46A-3A to 46A-3E , inclusive, any contiguous county, township, or group of townships may be added to and become a part of the district if: (1) The board of the water development district submits to the B…

Any costs associated with an election in accordance with § 46A-3A-16 are the responsibility of the county in which the area is located. Source: SL 1984 (SS), ch 1 , § 14; SL 2025, ch 186 , § 19. 46A-3A-18. Repealed by SL 2008, ch 233 , §§ 1, 5.

Repealed by SL 2008, ch 233 , §§ 1, 5.

The Central Plains Water Development District is established. The district is comprised of: (1) Faulk, Hughes, Hyde, Potter, and Sully counties; and (2) All municipalities that; (a) Are wholly or partially situated within the counties set forth in this section; or (b) Are contigu…

The East Dakota Water Development District is established. The district is comprised of: (1) Brookings, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Minnehaha, and Moody counties; (2) All of Lake County, with the exception of Clarno, Concord, Orland, Wayne, and Winfred townships; (3) Badger …

The James River Water Development District is established. The district is comprised of: (1) Beadle, Brown, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Sanborn, Spink, and Yankton counties; (2) Aurora, Belford, Bristol, Cooper, Dudley, Firesteel, Hopper, Palatine, Plankinton, Pleasant Lake, and…

The South Central Water Development District is established. The district is comprised of: (1) Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Douglas, and Gregory counties; (2) Center, Crystal Lake, Eureka, Gales, Lake, Patten, Truro, Washington, and White Lake townships in Aurora Count…

The West Dakota Water Development District is established. The district includes that portion of Pennington County west of the Cheyenne River. Source: SL 1984 (SS), ch 1 , § 11A; SL 2025, ch 186 , § 7.

The West River Water Development District is established. The district is comprised of: (1) Haakon, Jones, and Mellette counties; (2) That portion of Jackson County north of the White River, except Interior township and the unorganized Cedar township; (3) That portion of Penningt…

The Vermillion Basin Water Development District is established. The district includes: (1) Clay, McCook, and Turner counties; (2) Kingsbury County, except Badger township; (3) Clarno, Concord, Orland, Wayne, and Winfred townships in Lake County; (4) Adams, Belleview, Canova, Clea…

Fifteen percent of the eligible voters residing in a geographical area may petition the Board of Water and Natural Resources to submit to an election the question of whether the geographical area shall become a water development district. Source: SL 1984 (SS), ch 1 , § 13A; SL 20…

A petition submitted to the Board of Water and Natural Resources, in accordance with § 46A-3A-8 , must: (1) Describe the boundaries of the area to be included within the proposed water development district; and (2) Include the address of each individual who signed the petition, a…