Lake Agassiz Water Authority

The Dakota Water Resources Act (DWRA) of 2000 authorized the Red River Valley Water Supply Project (Project) in order to meet the comprehensive water quality and quantity needs of the Red River Valley. Lake Agassiz Water Authority (LAWA) acts as a cooperating agency on the Project.

The Need

A reliable supply of quality water is vital to the prosperity and survival of Red River Valley communities. If a 1930s-type drought occurred in the Red River Valley today, the valley would be short water every year, with the worth monthly water shortage as high as 46%. That number nearly doubles when the shortage is estimated for the year 2050. As populations of the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area and other communities along the river climb, it is clear that the devastation incurred today from a 1930s-type drought would leave many in the Red River Valley without a stable source of quality water.

Researchers say it is only a matter of time before the Red River Valley suffers another drought much like the one that occurred in the 1930s. Hydrologic computer modeling was used to estimate possible drought effects in the Valley. Modeled after the area’s 1931 to 1941 drought, projected consequences of a 1930s-type drought today depict devastating water shortages.

Many communities in the Red River Valley depend on the Red River or its tributaries as their primary water source, and for many towns and cities, the Red River serves as their sole source of water. Lack of sufficient flow in the Red River has happened in the past and is likely to occur again.

The Project

The proposed Red River Valley Water Supply Project would divert treated Missouri River water eastward from the McClusky Canal via a buried pipeline to Lake Ashtabula, which would act as a regulating reservoir. From there, water would be released into the Sheyenne River and flow into the Red River, supplying water systems in the Valley with a reliable supply of drinking water. It includes a water treatment plant at the McClusky Canal.

It’s flexible - it is adaptable to different growth patterns in the Valley.
It’s reliable - stored water is delivered by gravity (no pumps) and Lake Ashtabula provides 22.4 billion gallons of storage.
It’s cost-effective - gravity does most of the work. The plan includes 113 miles of gravity flow pipeline and 475 miles of river channel to convey the water.
It’s environmentally friendly - using Lake Ashtabula and the Sheyenne River provides significant benefits to the aquatice environment. It also harbors no significant negative envrionmental impacts.

Selection Process

The proposed project, the GDU Import to the Sheyenne River Alternative, was chosen as the preferred alternative by LAWA, Garrison Diversion and the North Dakota State Water Commission in October, 2005. LAWA, Garrison Diversion and the State Water Commission reviewed approximately 40 studies before voting to determine their favored option. In November 2005, Governor Hoeven selected the GDU Import to Sheyenne River Alternative as the State of North Dakota’s preferred alternvative.

DWRA mandated that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) be prepared, evaluting proposed alternatives and the project’s impact on the region’s environment. Garrison Diversion and Reclamation acted as co-leads in developing the EIS. A Draft EIS was released in December 2005, a Supplemental Draft EIS was released in January 2007 and the Final EIS was released in December 2007.

On December 5, 2008, the Bureau of Reclamation submitted a Comprehensive Report to Congress, as required by DWRA. The Comprehensive Report identifies the selected alternative for the Project, environmental issues, effects on Minnesota and Missouri River states, and compliance with the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.

Selected Alternative - The proposed Project is the GDU Import to the Sheyenne River Alternative, the same alternative selected by the State of North Dakota and detailed above.

Environment - The Project has minimal adverse environmental impacts, while the environmental benefits are maximized by the Project. Fish, mussels, and riparian habitat are improved in the Sheyenne River, and fish habitat is improved in the Red River. A biological assessment completed by the Bureau of Reclamation found that the Project is not likely to adversely affect any Federally listed species, including two endangered species, the least tern and piping plover.

Minnesota & Missouri River States - Impacts generally would be temporary and associated with construction of the Project in North Dakota or be minimal. The Project will not increase erosion on riverbanks, cause flooding, or adversely affect aquatic resources in the Red River Basin. The project would augment stream flows in the Sheyenne and Red Rivers and would meet most of the aquatic needs targets recommended by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, which is a beneficial effect for Minnesota.

The Project would withdraw about 0.3% of the water stored in the upper Missouri River system mainstem reservoirs. Existing water supplies in the Missouri River system will not be affected by the Project.

Treaty Compliance - The DWRA required that the Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of State, and the Environmental Protection Agency determine that adequate water treatment can be provided in the Project to meet the requirements of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909. The Treaty addresses issues of water quality and quantity along the border between the United States and Canada. Through a process defined by a Memorandum of Understanding between the three agencies, it was determined that adequate treatment procedures can be provided to meet the requirements of the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909.

The Road to Construction

In order to begin construction, the project must first go through several more stages.

For more information about the Project go to www.rrvwsp.com

LAWA will continue to support the Red River Valley Water Supply Project and aid in the realization of this project for the survival of the Red River Valley communities.