Photo: Greg Grenz
CARRINGTON, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Several state dignitaries and key leaders for the Red River Valley Water Supply Project (RRVWSP) were present in Carrington to break ground on the $1 Billion project on Tuesday, August 3rd.
The project will convey treated water from the Missouri River from central North Dakota east to the Red River Valley. When complete, the pipeline will begin at the Missouri River near Washburn and continue along Highway 200 to the Sheyenne River.
Garrison Diversion General Manager Duane DeKrey.
The 72-inch pipe will have the capacity to convey water at 165 cubic feet per second during peak demands. The construction will include installation of 1.2 miles of the pipe south of Carrington on the west side of U.S. Highway 52/281 and the Red River Valley & Western Railroad.
Lt. Governor Brent Sanford says the project has been going on for nearly 80 years. As drought conditions continue in the state, Sanford says that makes this project that much more important.
Sanford then shared a word from Governor Doug Burgum.
Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney says more than 30 cities will benefit from the project once it’s completed. He says help from the state legislature has helped make the RRVWSP a possibility.
Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner says the project will continue to be important not only today, but for future generations after all those who have worked on it are gone.
Garrison Diversion Board Chairman Alan Walter says they’ve reached an exciting time in the project after years and years of work and engineering.
The $1 billion project still faces huge funding and legal hurdles before a drop of water from the river can be tapped for emergencies during an extended drought.
Below are photos from the presentation by Greg Grenz, KDAK.
