SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) The choppy non-meandered waters debate in South Dakota made waves Tuesday on KELO Radio's It's Your Business Show with Bill Zortman.
House Speaker Mark Mickelson and Rich Widman with the South Dakota Wildlife Federation were in the same studio for the show, but miles apart on the issue.
Widman claimed his group isn't being listened to by state lawmakers putting together compromise legislation.
"No Sportsman group was involved with it, at all. We've asked to be involved, but we've been told that they're not going to listen to us, so..." claimed Widman. Mickelson quickly pounced on Widman.
"If you haven't been involved, that's too bad. That's a choice that you make. I will tell you that your group has acquired a reputation of being difficult to work with and uncompromising."
Widman and Mickelson went - testily - back and forth like that for a good part of the show on an issue that has divided landowners, lawmakers and sportsmen's groups.
Non-meandered lakes and ponds are long flooded private land, mostly in northeastern South Dakota, that, since a recent State Supreme Court decision, have basically been off limits to hunters, boaters and anglers. The court put the solution in the lap of the State Legislature.
There could be a special session in June.