Dakotas Area Office

304 East Broadway Ave.
Bismarck, ND 58501
Phone: (701) 250-4242
Fax: (701) 250-4326

Area Manager: Joe Hall

Deputy Area Manager: Scott Hettinger

Media Contact: Michelle Boehm

Phone: (701) 221-1207

 

Belle Fourche Reservoir
Belle Fourche Reservoir


Public Notice: Belle Fourche Reservoir Construction

The Bureau of Reclamation intends to solicit help from the South Dakota Army National Guard under an Innovative Readiness Construction Assistance Program. The project assistance will be for a variety of construction and recreation improvement activities, in conjunction with National Guard training needs on Bureau of Reclamation lands in Butte County, SD. No local funds are available to complete these projects without National Guard assistance.

Local contractors, labor union organizations or private individuals who have questions or who wish to voice opposition to the National Guard’s assistance regarding this project may contact Jake Bradford at (605) 519-5549 or JBradford@usbr.gov no later than May 15, 2025. Persons not filing comments within the timeframe noted will be considered to have waived their objections to the participation of the South Dakota Army National Guard in this project.

Public Input on Northwest Eagle Butte Water Project

The Bureau of Reclamation is requesting public input on the Northwest Eagle Butte Drought Resiliency Project, a federally supported effort to enhance reliable water access in Dewey County, South Dakota. The project aims to install a rural water pipeline northwest of Eagle Butte, improving long-term water supply reliability for the region. Public comments are being accepted through May 2, 2025.

The proposed project would begin west of Eagle Butte, approximately 0.3 miles north of the intersection of Highway 212 and 242nd Avenue, extending north for about 12 miles. The final route is still being determined, but the pipeline will be located within the designated project area.

This initiative is part of the Bureau of Reclamation’s WaterSMART Program, which supports water infrastructure improvements in rural communities. The assessment process will ensure compliance with all applicable federal requirements, including those related to cultural and historical preservation, wildlife considerations, and permitting processes.

Stakeholders, tribal governments, residents, and interested groups are encouraged to provide feedback to help shape the project’s development. All submitted comments, including the names and addresses of those who provide them, will be included in the public record.

For further details or to submit comments by postal service or email, please contact: Leslie Murphy (605) 696-9155, LeslieM@bannerassociates.com, 221 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 103 Pierre, SD 57501

Additional reference documents: MWWC Project Location Map

Map of Northwest Eagle Butte Water Project

Public Notice: Fort Clark Irrigation District

The Bureau of Reclamation, under the authority of Section 9(e) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939, (53 Stat. 1187), as amended and supplemented by the 1956 Act, announces its intention to enter into a 5-year term irrigation water service contract with the Fort Clark Irrigation District, Fort Clark Unit, Missouri River Division, Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, North Dakota.

The proposed contract is to provide continued delivery of project water following expiration of an existing water service contract with the District. The contract is to continue in force from the date of execution until December 31, 2030.

Copies of the draft contract are available upon request. To provide written comments, to request additional information, or to review a copy of the draft contracts, please contact Tyler Weigel, Bureau of Reclamation, at (701) 221-1259, at the Dakotas Area Office, 304 East Broadway, Bismarck, ND 58501, or at tweigel@usbr.gov.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services. Written comments will be accepted up to 60 days from the first date of this notice.

 

Public Notice: Heart Butte Dam

The Bureau of Reclamation has released the final Environmental Assessment (EA) for the construction of a Safety of Dams Modification Project at Heart Butte Dam.

No significant issues were identified during initial public scoping or through the release of the draft environment assessment; therefore, Reclamation has signed the FONSI and will proceed with Reclamation’s preferred alternative.

The need for the dam safety modification project arises from Reclamation’s duty to ensure the safety and reliability of Heart Butte Dam.

Construction is expected to require two to three years and a temporary reduction of Lake Tschida to the minimum water elevation of 2,030 feet. The reduction in reservoir elevation is necessary to ensure safe working conditions and enable project site dewatering during the construction period.

Please review the documents on the Heart Butte Safety of Dams Modifictaion Project page.

Public Notice: Duer Lake

Additional Documents:

Finding of No Significant Impact for Fort Berthold Rural Water System

Reclamation has completed a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) on the final programmatic environmental assessment for the Phase III of Water Infrastructure Projects within Fort Berthold Rural Water System, Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.

No significant issues were identified during initial public scoping or through the release of the draft environment assessment; therefore, Reclamation has signed the FONSI and will proceed with Reclamation’s preferred alternative.

A draft programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) was prepared for the proposed Project and made available for a 30-day comment period in November 2023. A final PEA was completed on January 16, 2024, and a FONSI was signed on January 22, 2024.

Hardcopies of the FONSI and final PEA may be obtained by calling Ashley Persinger, Supervisory Natural Resource Specialist, at 701-221-1282 or by requesting in writing from Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 1017, Bismarck, North Dakota, 58502. A copy of the FONSI and final PEA are located below:

  • Final PEA and FONSI
  • Letter to Public
  • Appendix D

Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment Fort Berthold Rural Water System Projects

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Last Updated: 4/29/25