WHO ARE WE? – Click to read our Mission Statement.
The mission of Black Hills Clean Water Alliance is to protect our valuable resources – especially water – for future generations, by preventing destructive mining in the Black Hills. The Alliance is a diverse collection of citizens concerned about the health, environmental, and economic impacts that mining projects and their contribution to the climate crisis are having on our communities, people, economy, and natural resources.
The Black Hills are unique culturally, ecologically, geologically, and economically – a tree-covered island in the midst of vast plains and the sacred center of Lakota treaty lands. They are headwaters for surface and ground water in the northern Great Plains, bringing life to communities, wildlife, ranches, landscapes, and people. It is our responsibility to protect the water that gives life.
Our organization and its allies have worked together since 2009 to prevent new uranium mining in the Black Hills. Several years ago, we decided to work to prevent new large-scale gold mining in the Hills, and most recently, we have worked to block lithium and graphite mining. Any of these projects would contaminate the limited water in our area. Join us to protect the beautiful and life-giving waters of the Black Hills region!
BREAKING NEWS & UPDATES!
Federal Review of the October Jinx project Coming in January 2026
Nexus Uranium has announced that the Federal scoping process for the October Jinx project will begin in mid-January 2026.
The proposed October Jinx project is the portion of the Chord Uranium Project that is on Forest Service-controlled land at Craven Canyon near Edgemont, South Dakota. This is separate from the company’s project on state-controlled land in the same area. Craven Canyon is an ancient sacred site with cultural and historical resources dating back more than 7000 years.
NOTE: When the Scoping process begins, we will post instructions on how to submit your public opinion comments to the Forest Service for this project. Currently, the Forest Service has proposed allowing uranium drilling to proceed without further environmental review under a Categorical Exclusion (CE).
More information at October Jinx
We will continue to update you here, and on our social media. Follow us to learn more.
- Sign the Petition! Help Protect Pe’Sla from Graphite Drilling
Add your name to protect sacred site Pe’Sla: PROTECT SACRED SITE PE’SLA – DENY DRILLING PERMIT TO PETE LIEN & SONS … Continue reading Sign the Petition! Help Protect Pe’Sla from Graphite Drilling
Another gold rush could bring open pit mines to South Dakota’s Black Hills
It has been 150 years since miners first flocked to South Dakota’s Black Hills in a gold rush that displaced Native Americans
By SARAH RAZA Associated Press/August 16, 2025, 9:53 PM
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A gold rush brought settlers to South Dakota’s Black Hills roughly 150 years ago, chasing the dream of wealth and displacing Native Americans in the process.
Now, a new crop of miners driven by gold prices at more than $3,000 an ounce are seeking to return to the treasured landscape, promising an economic boost while raising fears of how modern gold extraction could forever change the region.
“These impacts can be long term and make it so that tourism and outdoor recreation is negatively impacted,” said Lilias Jarding, executive director of the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance. “Our enjoyment of the Black Hills as a peaceful place, a sacred place, is disturbed.”
THANK YOU FOR HELPING PROTECT BLACK HILLS WATER FROM MINING.
5/22/25 – We wrapped up two important comment periods last week: one for the Craven Canyon Uranium drilling project and another for Pete Lien & Son’s Rochford Mineral Exploratory Drilling project.
Read more.
5/22/25 – We wrapped up two important comment periods last week: one for the Craven Canyon Uranium drilling project and another for Pete Lien & Son’s Rochford Mineral Exploratory Drilling project.
South Dakota’s DANR Minerals, Mining, and Superfund Program currently reported that they received 33 intervention petitions and about 320 comments on the Craven Canyon Uranium drilling project. We promise to keep you informed as we receive further updates.
And, we are thrilled to share that in just 37 days, the Forest Service received 2074 comments (and still counting!) on the Rochford (graphite) project, with the overwhelming majority expressing strong opposition to this proposal! What an amazing demonstration of support for our beautiful Black Hills.
Our team extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone for your passion and engagement during these comment periods. In particular, the team at NDNCollective put in a lot of work opposing the Rochford project.
Stay connected with us to keep up to date as we progress.
Thanks to all organizations and individuals who shared our posts and helped spread the word. It truly takes us all. Keep following us for updates.
What we do to HELP keep you informed.
Since 2009, BHCWA has been tracking mining claims and activities on our Black Hills homelands.
In the last several years, new mining projects have been announced – or discovered by local people – in the Black Hills. They join other projects that we already know about. This demands coordinated community action – first by your donation, and second by giving your time right now to oppose the attacks of mining companies. Are you in? Contact us to see how you can help.
Our updated mining claims map shows there are 259,014 acres currently under active mining claims, or about 17% of the entire Black Hills as of September, 2025. View this map, and all our maps, by clicking HERE.
Uranium Mining
Learn about the current status of now three proposed uranium projects; Dewey-Burdock, Chord, Wolf Canyon, and how these projects threatens our environment in the Southern Black Hills, again. … READ MORE.
Gold Exploration and Mining
Six companies with mining claims in the Black Hills are “exploring” for gold with the exception of Wharf, which is in full operation 24/7. Wharf is the only operating large-scale gold mine in South Dakota. … READ MORE.
The Lithium Rush Exploration
The Black Hills now has several known lithium mining efforts that are looking for lithium and/or have staked lithium mining claims. … READ MORE
Graphite Mining
Rochford Mineral Exploratory Drilling Project (not the former Rochford gold project, now called the Bella project). This new project would involve exploration drilling for graphite, a mineral that is used for electric vehicle batteries, lubricants, other industrial purposes – and for pencils.
If you value our work, please consider supporting us. We face an unprecedented push for new mining with less regulatory oversight. This means our work is more important than ever. Please use the link provided and donate today. Thank you!
Black Hills Clean Water Alliance 