Missouri Water Plan for Red River

It could happen any time between now and the end of the month. The Secretary of the Interior w...  More »

It could happen any time between now and the end of the month. The Secretary of the Interior will make a decision on how to supply the Red River Valley with water. Right now, there are six alternatives on the table. Three involve Missouri River water. Tom Gerhardt reports. Some of you might question why the Red River Valley needs a supplemental water supply. Signe:If another 1930's drought strikes the Red River...they don't have enough water in 1934 the Red River went dry for 5 consecutive months. If that happens again, we've got a big problem. Other are concerned the water could come from the Missouri River system. But officials say the amount of water sent east would have a minimal impact at best on the Missouri River system. As mentioned there are 6 alternatives on the table. This map hi-lites the preferred alternative. It would take water from Lake Sakakawea and pump it into Lake Audubon. From there it would go into the McClusky Canal and onto Lake Ashtabula and into the Cheyenne River. Two other options involve water from the westincluding the import pipeline. take water from McClusky Canal and pipe it east rather then put it into the Sheyenne River it would be piped straight to the east into the Red River Valley. The third option is the Missouri River Import option It would come from south of Bismarcka pipeline would run along I-94 east to the Red River Valleyand the water would be kept in pipe all the waythere would be a treatment plant by the river so it would be treated water that would imported into the Red River Valley. Snortland says the secretary of the interior could combine elements of the six options already on the table. His decision is due by the end of the month. Snortland says it is a complex issue. She says for more information and an easy to understand summary, log on to www.rrvwsp.com  « Less