Spearfish: planning ahead

The city of Spearfish takes its striking name from the practice of the Lakota and other groups who “speared” fish in the fast-flowing waters of Spearfish Creek. Originally called Queen City when it was established in 1876, the settlement’s location in a broad valley was more conducive to agriculture than mining. The town served an important need by supplying the miners working claims in Lead, Deadwood and other mining camps with food.

While other mining communities experienced boom-and-bust periods, Spearfish prospered as a result of a diverse economy that focused on agriculture and commerce; irrigated farming, cattle ranching, dairy processing, logging, milling and retail were all thriving enterprises that made the town an attractive destination for those who weren’t comfortable taking their chances on mining.

Today, Spearfish is a community of approximately 12,000 full time residents, with the population spiking during the school year with the students of Black Hills State University attending classes on campus.

Current water supply

“Spearfish’s water supply currently relies on seven wells in the Madison Aquifer,” said Nick Broyles, the Public Works Director of the City of Spearfish. “By the end of 2025, two additional Madison Aquifer wells will have been added to Spearfish’s water supply.” Towns, cities and communities throughout western South Dakota have been enjoying the plentiful and overall very high quality water of the Madison Aquifer for generations. The Madison and the region’s other aquifer, the Minnelusa, are adequate to maintain the needs of current users — but increased demand for water through population growth and reduced aquifer capacity caused by drought is a topic that is at the forefront of most municipalities and rural communities.

Diversifying water resources

Becoming a member of the Western Dakota Regional Water System was an obvious choice for the city of Spearfish. “The WDRWS will provide an opportunity to diversify our water supply and aid in meeting the water supply needs for our current population and anticipated future growth,” Broyles said. “Diversifying our water supply will help make our system more resilient to challenges such as unexpected, sustained drought.”