PIERRE, S.D.(Aberdeen Insider)- A request for more money to build a new dam at Richmond Lake has cleared a big hurdle.

Senate Bill 70 was approved by the Joint Appropriations Committee 18-0 on Friday, Feb. 23. It still has to pass the full House and Senate before getting to the the desk of Gov. Kristi Noem.

Noem, however, talked about the importance of replacing the damaged spillway during her budget address, so objection from her seems unlikely.

In 2022, state lawmakers approved $6.5 million for a new dam at Richmond, but cost estimates have spiked since then and now range from about $10 million to $26.8 million. That’s why more money is is being sought.

SB 70 would use $3.1 million from the state general fund to tap as much as $10.65 million in federal money.

South Dakota School and Public Lands oversees the structure and will plan replacement of the spillway when enough money is procured.