Dakotas Area Office

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

Area Manager: Joe Hall

Belle Fourche Reservoir
Belle Fourche Reservoir


Current News & Upcoming Events

  • South Dakota Army National Guard to Bivouac and Perform Road Work at Belle Fourche Reservoir >>
  • Reclamation to Perform Maintenance at Deerfield Dam >>
  • Temporary low flows at Rapid Creek should increase by end of week >>
  • Littering at Belle Fourche Reservoir >>
  • Army National Guard to Perform Road Work and Archery Range Improvements at Belle Fourche Reservoir >>
  • Reclamation to repair Stilling Basin Concrete Floor at Jamestown Dam >>
  • Dry Conditions Prompt Restrictions at Belle Fourche Reservoir >>
  • Reclamation to Perform Road Maintenance at Belle Fourche Reservoir >>
  • Public Service Announcement: Zebra Mussels in Pactola Reservoir >>

    • Public Notice: EA Draft preparation underway for Fort Berthold Rural Water System

    The Bureau of Reclamation Dakotas Area Office is preparing a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance, Repair (OM&R) and/or Replacement of Phase III Fort Berthold Rural Water System (FBRWS) Projects. The FBRWS is a Congressionally authorized municipal, rural, and industrial water system on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, and adjacent areas, in North Dakota. Phase I construction was authorized under the Garrison Diversion Unit Reformulation Act of 1986 and has been completed. Phase II construction was authorized under the Dakota Water Resources Act of 2000 (DWRA) and will be completed in the next few years. FBRWS OM&R as authorized under the Reformulation Act and DWRA is ongoing. The proposed EA analyzes the construction and OM&R of new Phase III facilities and OM&R of existing FBRWS facilities. The Phase III infrastructure would expand the FBRWS, enhancing its capability to provide reliable and safe drinking water to the residents of the Fort Berthold Reservation into the foreseeable future.

    Reclamation, as the owner of the FBRWS, is the lead Federal agency, responsible for ensuring compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), the National Historic Preservation Act, and other laws and regulations. Reclamation will determine the terms and conditions under which the EA would be approved. We request your feedback regarding potential effects about Phase III (the Proposed Action). Your input would assist us in making our decision.

    The FBRWS Phase III projects include continued expansion of the distribution system, installing water service connections, constructing new or increasing the capacity of water treatment plants, adding potable water storage tanks, working on Lake Sakakawea raw water intakes, installing water meters, adding booster stations, and constructing new FBRWS administration, shop and storage buildings. The proposed EA also includes a more comprehensive description of ongoing and future FBRWS OM&R activities.

    Reclamation defines significance in accordance with 40 CFR Part 1508.27. If no significant issues are identified during scoping or preparation of the EA, Reclamation would issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Conversely, if significant issues are identified, Reclamation would consider whether to proceed with preparing an environmental impact statement.

    It is requested that any comments, concerns, or information regarding the preparation of the EA for the Proposed Action (Phase III) be directed to Ms. Ashley Persinger, Environmental Coordinator, at (701) 221-1282 or submitted via email to APersinger@usbr.gov by July 1, 2023 Similarly, written correspondence should be sent to: Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, 304 E Broadway Avenue, Bismarck, North Dakota 58502. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.

    Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply (ENDAWS) Project

    Reclamation completes environmental review for the Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply Project

    BISMARCK, N.D. - The Bureau of Reclamation signed a record of decision selecting the preferred alternative proposed for the Eastern North Dakota Water Supply Project. The project is designed to deliver a bulk water supply to meet municipal and rural water needs of people in central and eastern North Dakota. "The project will use existing Garrison Diversion Unit facilities to meet contemporary water needs in the state,” said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman. “This infrastructure project will deliver a reliable and affordable water supply to farmers, ranchers and families in half of North Dakota.”. Read more >>

Oakes Test Area Title Transfer

The Bureau of Reclamation, in cooperation with the Dickey-Sargent Irrigation District (DSID), is asking for public comment on the Garrison Diversion Unit Project Oakes Test Area Title Transfer. Please provide comments or submit questions regarding the title transfer by April 9, 2020. The public is invited to view documents related to the title transfer below. Comments or questions may be submitted via email to pmosbrucker@usbr.gov or by leaving a voicemail message at 701-221-1204. Utilizing these tools for public involvement is being done in an effort to comply with the North Dakota Governor’s declared State of Emergency and the requirement for social distancing. Additionally, using email and voicemail allows Reclamation and the DSID to continue including the public in this action and to meet previously established deadlines within the National Environmental Policy Act.



Dakotas Area Office Overview

The Dakotas Area Office is responsible for administering Reclamation programs in North Dakota and South Dakota. The Area Office is located in Bismarck, North Dakota, with two field offices in South Dakota. The Area Office manages nine dam and reservoirs, three of which are in North Dakota. Activities include operation and maintenance of Reclamation facilities; contract renewals; water conservation; and oversight of the construction, and operation and maintenance of rural water systems – including those for tribes in the two states.

Reclamation projects in both states provide a water supply to a total irrigated acreage of 97,000 acres producing an average of $16 million worth of crops annually. Municipal, rural and industrial water supply projects will serve over 700,000 people when completed. Over a million visitors participate in recreation activities in Reclamation reservoirs in the states.

Red River Valley Water Supply Project, Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS):

Red River Valley Final Report on Water Needs and Options (all files require Adobe Acrobat, and open in a separate window).

Download a complete zipped copy of the CD (130 MB).

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Last Updated: 5/24/23