Cheyenne River Reservations

A look inside America's poorest county
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/A-look-inside-Americas-apf-621911295.html?x=0

notes -
ZIEBACH COUNTY, S.D
and Dewey County
It has no casino and no oil reserves or available natural resources.

Eagle Butte has few businesses and the handful that do exist struggle to stay afloat. The town has just one major grocery store, the Lakota Thrifty Mart, which is owned by the tribe. There's also a Dairy Queen, a Taco John's and a handful of small cafes. There's no bowling alley, no movie theatre.

======

2010 Snow & Ice Winter Storms

http://www.razoo.com/story/Cheyenne-River-Sioux-Tribe-Storm-Relief-Emergency-Assistance

The need for assistance on the Cheyenne River Reservation grows each day as the temperature continues to drop well below freezing. After suffering devastating ice-related storms over the weekend of January 22, 2010, electricity and water have been non-existent or scarce. Over 2,500 utility poles are currently on the ground in this remote, rural area. Power has been out in several communities and for thousands of residents for several days. Below zero temperatures and no electricity, heat, water or gasoline has created devastating results.

The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe is working to provide emergency services and meet the needs of area residents. Through the establishment of shelters with emergency power generators, the most vunerable have options, but there are thousands of residents suffering through the cold and scarcity in substandard housing.

==========

Groups assisting -

One Spirit
https://ccc.haghy.com/shelters/4867

==========

Source NEWS -

http://www.keloland.com/News/NewsDetail6371.cfm?Id=96702
Published: February 17, 2010, 9:59 PM

EAGLE BUTTE, SD - Officials on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation are calling the problem critical but the price tag to fix it comes to multiple millions.

They've tried for years to get funding from the federal government to upgrade an aging water system. Now leaders hope the widespread water problems they faced during the power outage raise awareness of the need.

Ranchers trying to get water to their cattle know there's a problem.

"When the cattle are drinking in the morning, a lot of people have to wait. They don't have enough water coming out of the tap to make a pot of coffee," Bob Booth said.

Booth lives near Ridgeview and spent thousands digging a well to supplement the water supply for his cattle.

He's a customer of Tri-County Water based in Eagle Butte. Its system can produce 1.2 million gallons of water a day but needs double that amount for its current customers alone.

"I mean, we're strapped," Tri-County general manager Earp Fischer said.

Fischer says the system needs at least a $90 million upgrade, including a new treatment plant and replaced pipes, before he'll be able to meet the water demands.

An asbestos pipe bringing water from the treatment plant to Eagle Butte is 15 to 20 years past its life expectancy. The line running from the river to the treatment plant is temporary and only expected to last three to five years. It's already two and a half years into that timeline.

And it's not only those with cattle facing water problems; communities feel the effects too.

"Without the water infrastructure, the water pressure, we can't build new homes and we can't build new businesses,” tribal chairman Joseph Brings Plenty said. “So it's basically keeping a very impoverished tribe, impoverished."

In fact, there is an area of land on the north end of Eagle Butte ready for houses. It even has a water tower in place to serve them but that's dry.

"Something has to be done and we hope it's soon," Booth said.

Since spending thousands to dig that well on his ranch, Booth has had to spend thousands of additional dollars to maintain it.

Officials are going to Washington, D.C., next week to fight for funding again this year