PIERRE, S.D. (KELO AM) The Open Waters Compromise is finally reopening dozens of South Dakota lakes that have been closed for months.
That means lots of hungry fish.
"That haven't been fed by that good bait. They're hungry and so I urge all the fishermen in earshot to get out there and feed those hungry fish with your hook." says Governor Dennis Daugaard (R).
Daugaard signed the compromise Monday night that was approved by the special session of the State Legislature after nearly ten hours of debate earlier in the day.
Daugaard tells KELO.COM News that state workers will be busy this week.
"...Take away the barriers to the public access that we had to put up after the Supreme Court ruling ..take them all down..we're gonna reestablish the fishing docks that we had to take out,"
Daugaard says the fact that state lawmakers were able to come to consensus on such a contentious, emotional issue is fresh evidence that South Dakota government works.
The Open Waters Compromise balances the rights of public access with the rights of property owners who own the land under these non-meandered lakes. The owners may put up barriers or close off sections of the lakes if they so choose. The compromise also includes a 'sunset' provision - in about a year, state lawmakers will revisit the issue to see how the compromise has been working in real life.