Central and eastern North Dakota are in need of a reliable, high quality water supply. Without a supplemental water supply during times of water scarcity, there would not be enough water to meet the needs of water users in central North Dakota and the Red River Valley. For this reason, Garrison Diversion and the Lake Agassiz Water Authority are moving forward with the Red River Valley Water Supply Project (RRVWSP).

The project will use a buried pipeline to convey treated Missouri River water from the Missouri River near Washburn, ND, along Highway 200 to the Sheyenne River to be used by water systems in the central and eastern North Dakota.

Environmental Impact Statement
Garrison Diversion (representing the State of North Dakota) and the Bureau of Reclamation (representing the federal government) were co-leads in the development of the EIS.

The purpose of the EIS was to evaluate alternatives to meet the long-term water needs of the Red River Valley in North Dakota and three border cities in Minnesota; East Grand Forks, Moorhead and Breckenridge.

 

View the Red River Valley Memorandum of Understanding between the Bureau of Reclamation and the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District

 

GDU Import to Sheyenne River Chosen as Preferred Alternative
The State of North Dakota and the Bureau of Reclamation each chose the GDU Import to the Sheyenne River as the preferred alternative after considering water permitting and environmental impacts, as well as technical, hydrologic and design evaluations.

The GDU Import to the Sheyenne River Alternative would transport water through the McClusky Canal and then utilize a buried pipeline from a biota treatment facility to the Sheyenne River north of Lake Ashtabula. Lake Ashtabula would act as a regulating reservoir. From there, water would be released down the Sheyenne River and flow into the Red River, supplying water systems in the Red River Valley with a reliable supply of drinking water.

 

State and Local Project

The original Red River Valley Water Supply Project was conceived as a federal, state and local project. Without federal authorization in place, local leaders and stakeholders began to look for a state and local option to complete the much needed project.

After completing multiple additional studies and examining countless alternatives, project leaders and stakeholders determined the most viable route for the state an local project to be a buried pipeline from the Missouri River near Washburn, ND, and along the Hwy 200 corridor to the discharge at the Sheyenne River. Water will be treated before crossing the continental divide.

The state and local project will provide a supplemental water supply benefiting users in central North Dakota along the pipeline route and ultimately the Red River Valley, providing an advantage over the original federal project, as that only served users in the Red River Valley.

Stutsman County and the City of Jamestown  need to decide if they wish to continue user participation,  which will be expected next year.  Considered is domestic and industrial nomination, peak day demand, desired points of connection for planning purposes, desired route of service, and desired water quality from the project.

To date, both Stutsman Rural Water and the City of Jamestown contributed roughly $135,000 in the development agreement in 2016.

 

The Garrison Diversion Conservancy District and the Lake Agassiz Water Authority are working together to bring the much needed project to fruition. Garrison Diversion represents the State of ND, whereas, the Lake Agassiz Water Authority represents the Project’s local users.

To learn more about the Red River Valley Water Supply Project, please visit the project website at www.rrvwsp.com.