BISMARCK, N.D. (SWC) – At the North Dakota State Water Commission (SWC) meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor Tammy Miller today, the SWC approved $190.8 million in cost-share requests, including $180 million for the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District (GDCD) to advance the next stages of the Red River Valley Water Supply Project (RRVWSP.)
The 2023 Legislative Assembly included $180 million for the RRVWSP in Senate Bill 2020 (the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and SWC budget bill). It is the largest single approval the SWC has ever considered. To address the local cost-share portion of the RRVWSP approval, the SWC also authorized GDCD to seek $60 million in loans via the Water Infrastructure Revolving Loan Fund (WIRLF) through the Bank of North Dakota.
When completed, the RRVWSP will deliver Missouri River water to central and eastern North Dakota via canal and pipeline to a discharge point in the Sheyenne River. When the project is fully operational, the RRVWSP will ultimately help serve water to half of North Dakota’s population, including Fargo and Grand Forks. Estimated completion is in 6-10 years. The total project cost is approximately $1.4 billion.
”The Red River Valley Water Supply Project is vitally important to the long-term sustainability and success of our citizens, our communities and the economy in central and eastern North Dakota, providing benefits to half of our state’s population and strengthening North Dakota as a whole,” Miller said. “We’re grateful to Governor Burgum for championing this critical infrastructure project, the Legislature for funding it and the local communities for investing in their future with matching dollars.”
The $180 million grant and $60 million in WIRLF loans were requested for construction costs involving 27 miles of transmission pipeline; final design costs for 40 miles of additional transmission pipeline; and preliminary design costs for the McClusky Intake and Pump Station, the Biota Water Treatment Plant and storage tanks.
”The Red River Valley Water Supply Project is essential to serve the central and eastern side of our state during drought conditions,” said Andrea Travnicek, DWR Director. “We are proud to support sustainable and resilient water infrastructure like this project and others that put the Missouri River to beneficial use for our citizens, industry and overall economy.”
The SWC also approved project requests for municipal water supply, rural water supply and emergency flood protection. Approximately $5.9 million was approved for municipal water supply projects in Drayton, Mandan, Napoleon, St. John and Underwood; $3.6 million was approved for two rural water supply projects sponsored by Dakota and Stutsman Rural Water Districts; and $1.4 million was approved for an emergency flood protection project in Jamestown.
During the meeting, a new State Water Commissioner was announced. Jeff Frith was appointed by Governor Burgum to serve as the new Devils Lake Basin Commissioner. Frith manages the Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Resource Board and brings a wealth of knowledge related to Devils Lake Basin water and land management issues.