PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Some state lawmakers gave a blunt message to state Wildlife Division director Tom Kirschenmann the other day.
They want the state Department of Game, Fish and Parks to put more effort into dealing with zebra mussels that are invading South Dakota waters.
Kirschenmann met with the Legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee on Tuesday to present the annual report on how the department uses revenue from habitat-stamp sales that lawmakers had approved in 2020.
What he got back was an earful about the department not doing enough to fight aquatic invasive species such as zebra mussels. The most direct comments came from the House speaker, Republican Representative Hugh Bartels , who is term-limited and didn’t seek election to the Senate.
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“I think you have a very poor record at Game, Fish and Parks especially with zebra mussels,” Bartels said. “I don’t see a lot of things happening.”
“I just think Game, Fish and Parks has really dropped the ball here,” Bartels added, suggesting that the state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources should also be involved because the agency oversees water quality and issues permits to water users.