News Release Archive

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

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

For Release: January 15, 2021

Brent Esplin, Missouri Basin and Arkansas-Rio Grande-Texas Gulf Regional Director, signs the Record of Decision for the ENDAWS project.BISMARCK, N.D. - The Bureau of Reclamation today 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.”

The selected alternative includes construction of infrastructure to provide up to 165 cubic-feet-per-second of water from the McClusky Canal. Water will be delivered through a buried pipeline along a northern route and connect with the main transmission pipeline of the state-led Red River Valley Water Supply Project. Phase 1 features will include an intake on the McClusky Canal, pump station, biota water treatment plant and buried pipelines. Phase 2 will include infrastructure required to provide up to 165 cfs of water from the Missouri River for a maximum total combination of 165 cfs of water.

Reclamation will issue a repayment contract for water use out of the McClusky Canal and other permits to construct and maintain facilities on Reclamation’s right of way. Water will pass through a biota water treatment plant prior to delivery to the state RRVWSP. "This is a culmination of local, state and federal entities partnering to manage and develop water resources in an environmentally sound manner," said Brent Esplin, director of Reclamation's Missouri Basin Region.

The signing of the record of decision completes the requirements for the National Environmental Policy Act. The final environmental impact statement was released on Dec. 4, 2020, and is available for download at https://www.usbr.gov/gp/dkao/nepa/endaws/index.html. The record of decision is also available on this same website or upon request by contacting Damien Reinhart at (701) 221-1275 or dreinhart@usbr.gov. For additional information please contact Patience Mosbrucker, Bureau of Reclamation, at (701) 221-1204 or pmosbrucker@usbr.gov.

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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.