News Release Archive

Reclamation takes action to transfer federal water facilities to local ownership in North Dakota

Media Contact: Patience Mosbrucker, 701-221-1204, pmosbrucker@usbr.gov

For Release: July 02, 2020

WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Reclamation today sent a notice to Congress announcing its intent to transfer federal ownership of the Oakes Test Area located near Oakes, North Dakota, to the Dickey-Sargent Irrigation District. This is the third set of water-related facilities that could be transferred under the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act (P.L. 116-9) signed by President Trump last year. The Act expedites the title transfer process for eligible projects, such as diversion dams, canals, laterals and other water-related facilities.

“This Administration is committed to empowering local decision-makers and facilitating infrastructure investment and job creation,” said Deputy Secretary of the Interior Kate MacGregor. “This title transfer process will allow local water users to have more control in meeting the water needs of their local farmers and communities.”

The Oakes Test Area was designed as a 5,000-acre prototype irrigation test area and includes three pumping plants, a canal, pipelines, laterals, drainage systems, wells, roads, an office building and several outbuildings. The facilities are over 30 years old and have reached a point where significant rehabilitation is necessary to keep them operational.

The Dickey Sargent Irrigation District’s future ownership of these facilities could be used as collateral to modernize these facilities while also offering significant cost savings for the Federal government by avoiding future operating costs and liabilities.

“Local water decisions should be made locally, and that’s what title transfer does,” said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman. “I am proud to send this additional title transfer to Congress so our partners at Dickey-Sargent will help control their own water future.”

“We’ve worked closely with the Dickey-Sargent Irrigation District and Reclamation to negotiate fair terms for transferring the Oakes Test Area to local ownership, and we’ve now reached the last stretch of this process,” said Senator John Hoeven. “After the 90-day Congressional review period, the title transfer will be final. This follows our long efforts to pass legislation to allow such a transfer, ensure the Oakes Test Area is eligible and develop a workable plan for the irrigation district. We appreciate the hard work of officials at both Interior and Reclamation for their continuous engagement on this issue. This title transfer will help enable the more effective use of the Oakes Test Area and ensure it continues to benefit agriculture producers in the region.”

“The Trump Administration is streamlining the bureaucracy and empowering local ownership. Giving North Dakotans possession of the Oakes Test Area saves the federal government money and enhances our irrigators’ use of this facility as Congress intended,” said Senator Kevin Cramer. “I applaud Interior and Reclamation for expeditiously utilizing the transfer authority Congress passed last year and working closely with us to complete this long-awaited title transfer.”

“Water resources are best controlled at the local level and this title transfer proves it. Rather than letting the Oakes Test Area go unused, the Dickey-Sargent Irrigation District will finally be able to fully utilize the site to benefit local users,” said Congressman Kelly Armstrong. “I want to thank Interior and Reclamation for their efforts in bringing control back to the local level.”

“If the title transfer is authorized, Dickey-Sargent Irrigation District will have the ability to manage our own facilities, and give us the ability to be more nimble and make adjustments for what is needed at the time,” said Dickey-Sargent Irrigation District Chairman David Locken. “We are looking forward to completing the title transfer process and would like to thank Senator Hoeven and the Bureau of Reclamation for their help along with the support from Senator Cramer and Representative Armstrong in completing this process.”

Background

Congress provided the authority for these and other qualified title transfers in Title VIII of P.L. 116-9, the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act. As required by the Act, today’s action is a written notification that begins a 90-day congressional review, after which Reclamation will complete the ownership transfer unless Congress enacts a joint disapproval resolution within that time period.

Upon conveyance of title, the Dickey-Sargent Irrigation District will manage these facilities to meet current needs in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.