A view from Lovers Leap Trail in Custer State Park, within South Dakota’s Black Hills. (Seth Tupper/SD Searchlight)
Lawmakers unanimously approved nearly $10 million worth of annual fee increases Tuesday in Pierre for outdoor recreation such as hunting and state park visitation, with a goal of bolstering conservation efforts and accomplishing delayed park projects.
The South Dakota Legislature’s Rules Review Committee gave final approval to the Department of Game, Fish, and Parks’ higher fees. The fee increases were previously approved by the GF&P Commission.
Kevin Robling, department secretary, said the additional funds will help address hundreds of projects put on hold due to budget constraints. The projects are part of the department’s five-year development and maintenance plan, which Robling described as crucial to ensuring the state’s outdoor recreation areas remain accessible and well-maintained.
Department officials cited inflation as the driving force. The department’s Division of Parks and Recreation, which oversees state parks, last adjusted fees in 2019. The Wildlife Division, which manages conservation, hunting, fishing and wildlife management, did so in 2014.