NAWS Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

In August, a celebration was held in Berthold to recognize the completion of four construction projects that enable the Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) to provide water service to Berthold, Minot's south hill region, and North Prairie Rural Water District, with water purchased from Minot's water treatment plant. The residents of Berthold are indeed thrilled with their new water supply. However, the use of Minot water is only temporary, as the longer-range plan is to provide all future NAWS customers with water from Lake Sakakawea. The pipeline that will deliver Lake Sakakwea water to Minot has already been completed. But, before water can be moved, water treatment facilities will have to be constructed as required by an Environmental Impact Statement - that the Bureau of Reclamation is expected to complete by the end of the year.

Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner, Bob Johnson, has announced the first funding opportunity for fiscal year 2009 under the Water for America Challenge Grant Program. Reclamation is seeking proposals for cooperative projects that create water banks and markets, or improve the water delivery efficiency of systems through conservation or operational improvements. Entities that may submit proposals are irrigation and/or water districts, water authorities of federally recognized tribes, and other entities created under state or territory law with water management authority. Applicants must also be located in the western United States or United States territories. Proposals must be submitted as indicated on www.grants.gov by January 14, 2009, at 4:00 p.m. MST. It is anticipated the awards will be made during the summer of 2009. For more information on Water for America visit www.usbr.gov/wfa. Questions can be directed to: Jim Weigel, Bureau of Reclamation, 701-221-1289, or by e-mail at jweigel@gp.usbr.gov

Fort Stevenson State Park on Lake Sakakawea

For the latest Missouri River main stem reservoir forecast information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, click here.

The draft 2008-09 Annual Operating Plan for the Missouri River has been released by the Army Corps of Engineers for public comment. The plan presents information on the anticipated regulation of the Missouri River main stem reservoir system for 2009 and the remainder of 2008. Six public meetings will be held this month to present and discuss the plan. Comments, both oral and written, will be accepted by the Corps until Nov. 21. The Bismarck meeting will be held at the Radison Hotel at 7:00 pm, Oct. 16. The draft 2008-09 Paln with a detailed description of the spring pulses is available on the "Reports and Publications" section of the Corps' Water Management website.

The Missouri River Basin

The Missouri River basin states and tribes have formed a new organization, to be used as a forum for dialogue on Missouri River basin issues. The Missouri River Association of States and Tribes (MoRAST) is a regional interstate organization formed by joint resolution of the governors of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas, and the Intertribal Water Rights Coalition. People interested in monitoring the activities of this organization can visit their website at www.mo-rast.org. Presentation materials from previous meetings are available and should prove informative concerning key issues facing the basin.

A flowing well in western North Dakota.

The Fox Hills-Hell Creek aquifer is a vital source of water for livestock, domestic, municipal, and industrial uses in western North Dakota. The aquifer is artesian, which allows wells in low-lying areas to flow. The pressure in the aquifer is declining at an average rate of approximately one foot per year. If the current trend continues, a majority of the flowing wells installed in the aquifer will stop flowing within the next 60-90 years.

On a ten-year frequency, the State Water Commission monitors flowing well pressure changes in the aquifer and publishes the results in three reports. In association with each report, brochures titled: Flowing Well Pressure Changes in 1) Billings, Golden Valley, and Slope Counties, 2) McKenzie County, and 3) the Knife River Basin were recently published.

The pressure in the Fox Hills-Hell Creek aquifer may be declining at a rate greater than is necessary. Conservation of the pressure is essential for maximizing the life of the flowing wells. Procedures to minimize pressure decline are described in the brochures.

To download a brochure, click here: Flowing Well Brochures. To download a report, click on Water Resource Investigations and choose WRI No 42, WRI No 43, or WRI No 44. For more information or to request brochures, contact Rex Honeyman, SWC Hydrologist, at 701-328-2754 or by e-mail at rhoneyman@nd.gov.