The Water Commission is involved in a wide variety of water projects throughout North Dakota. Many of the more prominent projects are listed here.
Dam Safety The National Dam Safety Program was initiated through the Corps of Engineers after the failure of the Taccoa Falls Bible College Dam in 1978. The North Dakota State Water Commission's Dam Safety Program was initiated to continue on with this program of inspecting dams and writing reports assessing the safety of the dams. The SWC's program inspects 66 significant dams on a rotational basis, so that every dam on the list is fully inspected at least once every eight years. Every year 120 dams are given a partial inspection to check on the status of the dam after the spring snowmelt runoff is over. Other dams in North Dakota are inspected on an "as needed" basis, such as when a dam is built, rehabilitated, or when the public has a concern about a dam.
MR&I Water Supply The focus of the MR&I program is to solve water quantity and quality problems of water systems. In 1986, the federal government authorized the Municipal, Rural and Industrial (MR&I) water supply program, funded partially by a $200 million federal grant, which has helped many North Dakota water systems obtain a clean, reliable supply of water for residences, farms, schools, hospitals and industries. An additional $200 million has been authorized in the Dakota Water Resources Act of 2000 (DWRA) to help further meet statewide water requirements. In spite of the work completed, many water systems need assistance.
Northwest Area Water Supply
Another part of the arid west-central section of North Dakota is waiting for the same taste of clean, clear water that many of their neighbors to the south are already enjoying. Many cities and rural areas in the NAWS project area have domestic water supplies with less than desirable quality.
Water from Lake Sakakawea will be pumped as far north as Sherwood, to Bottineau in the east, and Divide County in the west. The city of Minot in Ward County will also get its water from the Northwest Area Water Supply project. Like the Southwest Pipeline and the other MR&I programs, the $115 million Northwest Area Water Supply project will be funded at 65% with federal funds from Garrison and 35% with local funds provided by the communities that will use the water. After construction, the cost of operating the water delivery system is borne by the user who purchases the water.
The advantage of Missouri River water? Not only a clean and abundant supply of water for the residents of North Dakota, including the far west and the Red River Valley, but a more inviting home for potential business and industry and a stronger local economy. That means more and better jobs for North Dakotans. Water is not the only element in a winning strategy for growth, but nothing is more necessary for the future of the people of North Dakota.
Red River Basin The majority of water resource districts in North Dakota are established along county boundaries. Because water does not respect political boundaries, cooperation is sometimes required among many water resource districts to manage water at the watershed level. For this reason, the North Dakota Legislature enacted the Joint Exercise of Powers Statute - establishing the ability to form joint water resource districts in 1975.
Southwest Pipeline
Less than 15 inches of rain falls on southwestern North Dakota each year. That's not nearly enough to keep wells in the area from running dry and streams and reservoirs from emptying out. In 1977, the State Water Commission began studying the difficult task of bringing enough clean water to the southwest to support the people there. The subsequent pipeline has already brought water to a number of threatened communities in the southwest. More are waiting for the project to be completed. The pipeline brings water from Lake Sakakawea, the giant reservoir created by the Garrison Dam, to Dickinson. In Dickinson the water is treated and sent on its way to Mott, New England, Richardton, Golden Valley, and other communities including the city of Dickinson. That means that tens of thousands of homes, farms, schools, and other facilities have a reliable supply of clean water.
