Community and Commercial Benefits from Water Resource Development of the Oahe Area

The recently completed Oahe dam across the Missouri river near Pierre is storing water potentially useful for developing the economy of north central South Dakota. Such water if used within the State for improving the agricultural productivity of the region could be expected to increase the volume of business in towns within or near the Oahe area and to improve industrial and municipal water supplies. This leaves the objectives of this study as follows: estimate the change in business activity within and near the project area; assess the value of adequate municipal and industrial water supplies for expansion purposes; and estimate the potential of water resource development for improving community facilities. It should be evident from these objectives that this study is primarily concerned with benefits (and other effects) to State and local areas and not to the National economy. Comparison of the effects on the National economy of water resource development in the Oahe area and of resource development in other areas of the U.S. is beyond the scope of this study