WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after a federal court rejected a lawsuit brought by the State of Missouri against the Central North Dakota Water Supply Project. The decision enables the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to move forward with a water service contract for the project to receive up to 20 cubic feet per second of water from the McClusky Canal, helping provide a municipal, rural and industrial water supply for Burleigh, Sheridan, Wells, Foster, Kidder, McLean and Stutsman counties.
Today’s decision follows Hoeven’s efforts to secure approval of the contract. This includes arranging a meeting between Garrison Diversion Conservancy District officials and then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in 2018, as well as working to ensure BOR promptly completed the required environmental assessment for the contract.
“This federal court decision is welcome news, as it helps reduce legal uncertainty for the Central North Dakota Water Supply Project and will enable our state to make good use of water from the McClusky Canal,” Hoeven said. “Moving forward, we will continue working with Garrison Diversion and the administration to help ensure a fair price for this contract, allowing for an affordable and more reliable water supply for communities across these seven counties.”
BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), a Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee member, issued the following statement today on a federal court rejecting a lawsuit brought by the State of Missouri against the Central North Dakota Water Supply Project:
“Missouri’s lawsuit was without merit and would have significantly and unnecessarily interrupted North Dakota’s water supply efforts in the middle of a serious drought. I am glad it was thrown out and look forward to working with the Bureau of Reclamation and relevant local agencies to advance all of the important North Dakota projects to utilize Missouri River water without the threat of needless litigation.”
As an EPW member, Senator Cramer has been working with federal and local leaders at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the Garrison Diversion to advance this and other North Dakota water projects.