Washington (Sens. Heitkamp & Hoeven Offices)  – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp Friday announced that the U.S. Senate has passed bipartisan legislation she helped introduce and cosponsor to allow homeowners around the Jamestown Reservoir and Patterson Lake to buy the lots on which their homes sit.

The bipartisan bills would transfer lot ownership at Patterson Lake to the Dickinson Parks and Recreation Department. Additionally, lots along the Jamestown Reservoir would be transferred to the Stutsman County Park Board. After this process has completed, North Dakotans with homes on these lots would be able to purchase the land. The legislation was introduced by U.S. Senator John Hoeven (R-ND).

Jamestown Reservoir Legislation

Hoeven’s Jamestown Reservoir legislation:

  • Permanently transfers federal lands around Jamestown Reservoir – including 71 permitted exclusive use cabin lots, two campgrounds, a park and unpurchased lots – to the Stutsman County Park Board and the North Dakota Game and Fish at no cost.
  • Directs that proceeds exceeding the costs of preparing residential lots for sale be used for administrative costs and deferred maintenance of the dam. The BOR would continue to maintain responsibility over the reservoir and dam.

 

Hoeven’s Patterson Lake and Jamestown Reservoir bills follow his successful efforts to limit permit fee increases for permittees on Patterson Lake, the Jamestown Reservoir and Lake Tschida. The BOR had proposed to more than double the cost of fees and the senator’s legislation limited the total fee increase to no more than 33 percent over 5 years.

 

Heitkamp says, “For many years, folks along Lake Paterson and the Jamestown Reservoir have wanted to purchase the lots on which they’ve built homes, spent time with their kids and grandkids, and made priceless memories.   Alongside Senator Hoeven, we worked to make sure these North Dakotans can continue to enjoy the swimming, fishing, and boating these bodies of water provide. With these bipartisan, commonsense bills now moving through Congress, we’re allowing homeowners to invest in their properties, take real ownership of the land, and keep our state’s recreational opportunities affordable for all.”

 

This legislation builds on Heitkamp’s efforts to support permit holders along North Dakota reservoirs. In December 2016, she worked to pass a water resources bill that included provisions to benefit North Dakota homeowners on Lake Patterson, Lake Tschida, and the Jamestown Reservoir. The provisions helped limit a planned increase in permit costs for lots on these reservoirs.