DailyClout
0
  • Home
  • Billcam
  • Campaigns
  • Submissions
  • Events
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Become a Member!
  • Login/Sign Up
  • Home
  • Billcam
  • Campaigns
  • Submissions
  • Events
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Become a Member!
  • Login/Sign Up
  • All Posts
  • Bulletin Board
  • Opinion
  • Pfizer Analysis
  • Hot Bills
  • Videos
  • Dr. Naomi Wolf’s Outspoken
  • The Mindful Activist
  • Sponsored Content
  • Press Releases
  • Contributors

DailyClout

SD Photographer Paul Horsted Urges “No” Vote On HB 1048—A Bill That Would Place a Campground In A Wildlife Area At Custer State Park, SD

January 23, 2022 • by Paul Horsted

HB 1048 – A Bill That Would Add To The Traffic, Congestion and Noise In The Middle Of The Custer State Park Wildlife Preserve, According To Conservationists

This morning at sunrise (Jan. 20), I went out for a few more photos (OK to share!) of the proposed campground site in Custer State Park just off the Wildlife Loop Road. In the silence of dawn, I watched two bull bison graze across the area, and I thought about what will be bulldozed, blacktopped, wired, sewer-lined, mowed, and fenced if plans by the State and Game, Fish & Parks are funded by the Legislature.

If you’re just tuning in, House Bill 1048 in the House Ag and Natural Resources Committee would turn this prairie plateau into a 175-site, $10 million campground in an area of Custer State Park, South Dakota, that has never before seen such a level of development. The plan has been publicly opposed by former Director of Custer State Park Rollie Noem, and by former Game, Fish and Parks Secretary John Cooper (Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 1/18/22[pls add link url]). It’s also opposed by the South Dakota Campground Owners’ Association, who rightly think that if more campsites are needed then that’s an issue for private enterprise, not for the State, which is already, from their point of view, serving unfair competition for their own customers.

The bill is apparently opposed by many others, who shared my previous post more than 600 times in the past 36 hours. It seems we all agree that this will bring a new level of traffic and noise to the park, that it is bad for wildlife who inhabit the area year-around, and that it will degrade the scenic beauty of a place we all treasure.

Temperatures this morning hovered around zero; but the two bison didn’t seem to mind, as they grazed for their breakfast. The sun rose on one side while the moon set on the other, bringing us and them a day closer to a decision about whether these bison, elk and other wildlife will roam freely here in the future or be displaced by what might better be called the “CSP RV Park.” A while later I spotted a herd of elk on a ridge a couple of miles south…a few minutes’ walk for them.

It’s my understanding that if HB 1048 is passed through the Ag and Natural Resources Committee (next week), it will then go directly to the Appropriations Committee to be added to the general budget (it’s only $10 million, after all). I am told it will probably NOT GET A FLOOR VOTE in the full House. So action is required.

May I suggest that you email each member of the Ag and Natural Resources Committee (who are considering this bill) if you would like to stop HB 1048 before it gets rubber-stamped and sent to Appropriations. Each member’s email address is listed below. You can also call 605-773-3851 and ask for someone in particular or else leave a message for the Committee. You may also testify remotely before the committee or submit written testimony in advance. Email for more information, or to get on the agenda:
houseagnaturalresources@sdlegislature.gov or visit this page: https://sdlegislature.gov/Session/Committee/1002/Detail

I’ve already heard of one “compromise” that may get written into HB 1048: it’s to build the campground but then close it in the winter and spring, allegedly to avoid disturbing the elk. But the elk are there year-around, or would be without the campground in the middle of their traffic pattern. Also, this notion does not address the noise and visual blight, the increased traffic, and the concerns of private campground owners. Use any of this or your own thoughts for the emails that you send.

Thank you again for helping with this effort to preserve this beautiful South Dakota park.

General email address:
houseagnaturalresources@sdlegislature.gov

(Chair) Marty.Overweg@sdlegislature.gov
(Vice-Chair) Charlie.Hoffman@sdlegislature.gov
Rocky.Blare@sdlegislature.gov
Roger.Chase@sdlegislature.gov
Caleb.Finck@sdlegislature.gov
Tim.Goodwin@sdlegislature.gov
Trish.Ladner@sdlegislature.gov
Oren.Lesmeister@sdlegislature.gov
Sam.Marty@sdlegislature.gov
Lynn.Schneider@sdlegislature.gov
Richard.Vasgaard@sdlegislature.gov
Dean.Wink@sdlegislature.gov
Nancy.York@sdlegislature.gov
In the media Rapid City Journal

 

VOTE HERE, AND FOLLOW ON BILLCAM

Spread the love

Paul Horsted has been a photographer for forty years, starting with his high school newspaper and yearbook, quickly graduating to weekly and daily newspapers, and then professionally as an independent photographer for the past thirty years. Horsted has shot everything from news, features, sports, weddings, advertising, landscape, wildlife and more.

“My passion now is locating the sites of historic images so I can precisely “re-photograph” them. I’ve done this around the Black Hills, Dakotas and in National Parks across the USA.  I like to learn about history, and to satisfy my curiosity about what I’ll find at these places after 100 years or more. I love speaking to groups about the beauty and history I’ve found in my projects.

“My wife (and book designer) Camille Riner and I founded Dakota Photographic LLC in 1990. Our publishing imprint is called Golden Valley Press, in honor of the “golden valley” where gold was discovered in the Black Hills in 1874, not far from where we live near Custer, S.D. To date we have published 5 coffee-table books on ‘The Beauty of Today, the History of Yesterday’.”

www.paulhorsted.com

Spread the love
Spread the love
#conservation #CusterStatePark #HB1048 #ProtectWildlife #SaveTheBison #Savethepark
Previous StoryMEDICAL OPINION: “Israel Vaccinating Babies—Unethical, Unconscionable and Unnecessary”
Next StoryDEAR DR NAOMI WOLF: “More Damage Than We Know — A Mother’s Testimony of Collateral Damage”

Leave your comment Cancel Reply

(will not be shared)

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • hives
    Report 65: In the First Three Months of Pfizer’s mRNA “Vaccine” Rollout, Nine Patients Died of Anaphylaxis. 79% of Anaphylaxis Adverse Events Were Rated as “Serious.” Friday, 31, Mar
  • 719a86b8-1d55-4208-adc7-9c261455db55
    This is The New Beginning of Real Medicine Friday, 31, Mar
  • Trump Indictment Spurs Glenn Beck to Wholeheartedly Support the Former President on Tucker Carlson Tonight
    Trump Indictment Spurs Glenn Beck to Wholeheartedly Support the Former President on Tucker Carlson Tonight Friday, 31, Mar
  • Screenshot 2023-03-29 8.51.38 PM
    MAKING HISTORY: The WarRoom/DailyClout Pfizer Docs Analysis Reports Thursday, 30, Mar
  • pexels-liza-summer-6382660
    3 Things You Need to Know About Treating Spike & Post-COVID Syndrome Thursday, 30, Mar

Blog Archive

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

  • I agree to receive emails and other content from DailyClout. I understand that I may repeal my consent at any time.

  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • BillCam
  • Campaigns
  • About Us
  • Submissions
  • Advertise with Us
  • Events
  • Media Contact
View Cart Checkout
Do you really want to logout of DailyClout?
Yes

You are now leaving DailyClout...