CENDAK in South Dakota An Economic Impact Study

CENDAK is an acronym for the Central South Dakota Water Supply System and is a multi purpose water delivery system which would use Missouri River water from Lake Oahe. The project would service 300,000 acres of farmland. Other potential uses of the project would be for a municipal and industrial water supply system. Economic activity generated from construction of CENDAK is estimated at $911.9 million, providing over 10,700 temporary, full- and part-time employment opportunities in the 10 year construction process and in industries which support construction of the project. Annual operation, maintenance, and repair costs of CENDAK would generate $20.9 million in economic activity while creating 224 full- and part-time jobs. Water delivered through CENDAK for irrigation purposes would annually generate between $121.1 million and $212.8 million in economic activity, providing employment of 1,352 to 2,362 full- and part-time jobs with total wages of $16.9 million to $28.7 million. With the establishment of CENDAK, other industries which utilize South Dakota produced commodities could expand or set up operations in the state, resulting in higher tax revenues for state and local governments. The construction, operation, and maintenance of the CENDAK project would have a major impact on the economy of South Dakota.