Bill would authorize over $1.3 billion more for North Dakota water projects

The bill would authorize more money for North Dakota water projects: $120 million for a Northwest water plant and pump station, $404 million for the Eastern North Dakota alternate water supply, $50 million for the Southwest Pipeline Project, and $63 million for rural water districts. Amounts are adjusted for inflation in construction costs. Money among these projects could move, but no project's amount could rise by more than 50 percent. Authorizing money does not pay for the projects. Congress would still have to appropriate it. The Secretary could use some of the money for final engineering reports on the Southwest Pipeline and rural water district projects, due within 2 years.

The bill would authorize $743 million for Tribal rural water: up to $118 million for Spirit Lake, $275 million for Three Affiliated Tribes, $240 million for Standing Rock, $98 million for Turtle Mountain, and $12 million for a Lake Traverse study and possible construction. The systems are on the Fort Totten, Fort Berthold, Standing Rock, Turtle Mountain, and Lake Traverse Indian Reservations. Lake Traverse construction could begin only after the study and a finding that the project is technically and financially feasible. Final engineering reports for four of the systems would be due within 2 years.

The bill would replace an existing $75 million funding amount for section 11 and set how the new amounts are adjusted for inflation, and it would add the new project money to a natural resources trust provision. It changes funding rules in the Dakota Water Resources Act. The $75 million would remain available until spent.