The Lake Agassiz Water Authority (LAWA) is scheduling meetings with prospective users of the Red River Valley Water Supply Project (RRVWSP) in late 2026. The goal of the meetings is to provide rural water systems, cities, and counties with updates on construction progress and cost projections. The RRVWSP is co-sponsored by LAWA and Garrison Diversion Conservancy District.
Regional & Individual Meetings Planned
“We want to visit with each User that has shown interest in participating in this generational project,” says Spencer Halvorson, LAWA Executive Director. “We are at a point in the project where we need to firm up the commitments and determine where the water will ultimately be going.”
Halvorson says several regional meetings will be scheduled this fall to bring community and water system leaders together to hear updates and answer questions. Follow-up meetings will be scheduled with individual systems to discuss their unique service needs, confirm water nominations, and outline their estimated costs.
Federal, State & Local Partnership
The State of North Dakota has legislatively committed $953 million to the RRVWSP. For the 2025-2027 biennium, $205 million is included for the RRVWSP in the Department of Water Resources budget. That funding represents the State’s 75% cost share for the current biennium. The local portion for the biennium is $68.3 million, which is paid largely by the Cities of Fargo and Grand Forks and an initial contingent of communities that have signed interim financing agreements.
The project has also had significant success in securing federal funding, as the State’s congressional delegation helped secure $150 million for the Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply (ENDAWS), a project that complements the RRVWSP. ENDAWS will utilize existing federal infrastructure to drastically reduce construction and operational costs. Senator John Hoeven has a goal of providing an additional $304 million for the ENDAWS project.
“As of 2026, financial commitments to the project at the state, federal, and local levels exceed $800 million,” says Merri Mooridian, Deputy Program Manager of RRVWSP Administration and Garrison Diversion Administrative Officer. “The cooperative effort between local users, the State of North Dakota, and the federal government coming together for a common goal has been amazing.”
Potential RRVWSP Recipients
Twenty-four rural water providers, cities, and counties signed Memorandums of Commitment (MOC) since 2024. The systems that move forward with RRVWSP participation will be asked to sign a Water Supply and Distribution Agreement.
The following previously signed an MOC to indicate their interest in the RRVWSP: the Cities of Carrington / Carrington JDA, Cooperstown, Fargo / West Fargo / Cass County, Grafton, Grand Forks, Hillsboro, Jamestown, Lisbon, Mayville, Valley City, Wahpeton, Washburn; Agassiz Water Users District, East Central Regional Water District, McLean-Sheridan Rural Water District, Northeast Regional Water District, Southeast Water Users District, and Walsh Rural Water District; as well as Dickey, LaMoure, Richland, Sargent, and Traill Counties.