Summary#
This bill authorizes the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System to plan, design, and build a regional water supply system serving parts of eastern Montana and a portion of McKenzie County, North Dakota. The Secretary of the Interior may carry out the project in line with a Bureau of Reclamation feasibility study from October 2025. The bill requires a cooperative agreement between the Secretary and the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority and allows federal funding for construction-related facilities, pipelines, pumping stations, treatment, storage, electrical facilities needed for operation, and related property. Title to the Water System would be held by the Authority.
What it means for you#
- The project is intended to provide municipal, rural, and industrial water to specified counties in eastern Montana and part of McKenzie County, North Dakota.
- A not-for-profit Authority would own the system and must enter a cooperative agreement with the Interior Department to receive federal assistance.
- The Authority may receive low-cost firm power from the Pick-Sloan program via the Western Area Power Administration if it meets eligibility conditions; the Authority must pay the power charges and non-Federal delivery costs.
- Federal funds may be used for construction and certain intake, distribution, pumping, and storage facilities, but not for operation, maintenance, or replacement of the Water System.
- The bill says it does not change State water law or a State's authority to manage water resources.
- The bill includes a specific provision that livestock watering shall not be limited to incidental noncommercial livestock watering.
Expenses#
- The bill authorizes $602,000,000 to be appropriated for planning, design, and construction of the Water System for fiscal years 2027 through 2037.
- The federal share of planning, design, and construction costs may not exceed 75 percent of total costs, or a lesser amount the Secretary sets in a feasibility report. Amounts provided under this share are not returnable or reimbursable under reclamation laws.
- The authorized appropriation may be adjusted for ordinary cost index changes after January 1, 2024, and the Secretary may adjust amounts for unforeseen market volatility or construction cost changes.
Proponents' View#
Supporters would say the bill provides federal authorization and funding tools to deliver a dependable municipal, rural, and industrial water supply to the listed service area, and makes power available under the Pick-Sloan program to meet the system's operational needs. The bill creates a cooperative framework and cost-share rules to build facilities needed for rural water distribution.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.