Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
A map of the Red Riber Valley Water Supply Project pipeline to be constructed.
Construction is underway on the long-anticipated Red River Valley Water Supply Project! The water supply project is a concerted effort to ensure that public water systems in central and eastern North Dakota have adequate water supplies, especially during periods of moderate and severe drought. The supplemental emergency water supply will serve nearly 50% of the state's population, once completed.
The project will use a buried pipeline to convey treated water from the Missouri River near Washburn, along Highway 200 to the Sheyenne River, to be used by water systems in central and eastern North Dakota. The 72-inch steel pipe will have the capacity to convey water at 165 cubic feet per second (cfs) during peak demands.
The Garrison Diversion Conservancy District is a co-sponsor of the project, along with the Lake Agassiz Water Authority (LAWA). LAWA is an organization representing water users in central and eastern North Dakota.
Carrington Mayor Tom Erdmann represents the City of Carrington as a LAWA board member. "This is a large project, and it's good for the whole state, for Carrington, and for the future of North Dakota. Water supply is critical to being competitive for future industrial opportunities," says Mayor Erdmann.
Over 30 cities and water systems invested in the development portion of the project, and now project leaders are working with potential users to determine their commitment to receiving project water.
"Buying into the pipeline project will afford us opportunities for the future, allowing Carrington to be competitive for industrial opportunities," says Mayor Erdmann. "The cost of participation will provide the ability to source this additional water supply, adding value to what we can offer to outside industries."
To establish substantial reliance on the permits, project leaders have taken a strategy to construct the beginning and end of the project, along with a portion of pipeline in the middle of the project route. ICS, Inc. began construction on the Missouri River intake wet well, approximately four miles south of Washburn, in December 2020. The discharge structure will be located six miles south of Cooperstown near the Sheyenne River. The construction contract for the discharge was awarded to Industrial Builders, Inc., who will be on site in early May.
Most visible to residents in the Carrington area will be the initial pipeline construction, which entails installing 1.2 miles of pipe, and includes tunneling under the highway and railroads. Work will begin one mile south of Carrington, on the west side of U.S. Highway 52/281 and the Red River Valley & Western Railroad.
In mid-May, Garney Construction will begin tunneling work underneath the railroads and highway, with pipeline installation to run east one mile. Pipeline installation will begin in July and will be mostly completed by late October of this year. Future contracts will extend the pipeline east and west of town.
"This project is a 'win' for the region, and hugely beneficial to Carrington," says Mayor Erdmann. "This pipeline project, and the upcoming pipeline construction extending east and west of the city, will have a positive impact on our local economy, as outside activity is always good for the tax base."
The $1.22 billion Red River Valley Water Supply Project is necessary to protect North Dakota's communities and economy from the devastating effects of moderate and severe drought. The long-term effects of a severe drought would be financially devastating. A 10-year drought similar to the Dust Bowl of the '30s would have a $32 billion impact on the entire state's economy. A moderate drought, like what occurred in the 1980s, would have more than a billion-dollar impact. Both scenarios would damage the state's communities, industries, and future economy.
"Garrison Diversion board members and staff, as well as Lake Agassiz Water Authority board members, have been working towards this for several years. Getting the project to the point of construction is truly worth celebrating," says Duane DeKrey, General Manager of Garrison Diversion. "The North Dakota legislature also sees the benefit of the project, as they have committed $50 million to the project for the 2021-2023 biennium."
An event will be held at the pipeline construction site southeast of Carrington at the end of July, with additional details forthcoming as the event draws closer. For more information about the Red River Valley Water Supply Project or for project updates, visit http://www.rrvwsp.com or follow the project on Facebook @RRVWSP.
