BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota officials are promoting a decades-long idea of piping Missouri River water across the state to central and eastern North Dakota to combat future drought conditions. A groundbreaking is planned Tuesday near Carrington to mark the start of pipeline construction for the Red River Valley Water Supply Project. It’s a more than $1 billion project that still faces huge funding and legal hurdles. Fargo relies primarily on the Red River for its water. During the 1930s, the river almost dried up. Backers say similar conditions today would cause extreme water shortages and billions of dollars in economic damage to the region

The initial pipeline construction involves the installation of 1.2 miles of 72-inch pipe about one mile south of Carrington on the west side of U.S. Highway 52/281 and the Red River Valley & Western Railroad. In mid-May, Garney Construction began stripping topsoil in preparation of open-cut pipeline work.

When complete, the pipeline will begin at the Missouri River near Washburn and continue along Highway 200 to the Sheyenne River.