BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Doug Burgum welcomed today’s announcement that the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) has issued a key environmental approval for the Central North Dakota Water Supply Project.
The BOR announced that it has completed the environmental assessment for the project and released a Finding of No Significant Impact, which will allow a special use permit and water service contract to be issued to the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District.
The project will use 20 cubic feet of water per second from the McClusky Canal to provide a reliable source of industrial water for the cities of Jamestown, Carrington and Tuttle and the Stutsman Rural Water District, Central Plains Water District and South Central Regional Water District, benefiting seven counties in all: Burleigh, Sheridan, Wells, Foster, Kidder, McLean and Stutsman.
“An adequate, reliable water supply is essential to attracting future industrial development and diversifying North Dakota’s economy,” Burgum said. “We’re grateful to the BOR and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who recognizes the importance of water supply projects to the health and vibrancy of rural America. Our state’s congressional delegation also deserves thanks for championing this project, which our administration will continue to support to completion.”
Burgum and Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford joined Zinke and lawmakers in May as Zinke toured the McClusky Canal and Snake Creek Pumping Plant near Coleharbor. Burgum and Sanford stressed the canal’s importance to proposed water projects that would provide supplemental water to central and eastern North Dakota during times of water scarcity.
The BOR says it will now coordinate with the Western Area Power Administration on a power contract with Garrison Diversion for the project.
