Thanks in large part to U.S. Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer, a federal project that will complement the state-led Red River Valley Water Supply Project (RRVWSP) has received the official green light and two federal funding approvals.

Sen. Cramer announced on March 17 that the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation approved $100 million for the Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply (ENDAWS) project, as well as $8 million for the McClusky Canal and Snake Creek Pumping Plant. The funding is included in the Working Families Tax Cuts bill, also known as the Trump Administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

“Today’s announcement is the result of the North Dakota delegation’s work to secure this funding in the Working Families Tax Cuts law,” said Sen. Cramer. “It builds on our efforts to include funding for ENDAWS in the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water appropriations bill and brings us closer to finishing the project. Upon completion, ENDAWS will ensure reliable water supply to roughly 50% of North Dakota’s population.”

As a member of the Senate Energy and Water Development Appropriations Committee, Sen. Hoeven was the driving force behind securing authorization and $50 million for the ENDAWS project within the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations legislation. In February, President Donald Trump signed the $1.2 billion appropriations package, which includes funding for ENDAWS.

“The federal ENDAWS project brings real savings to the Red River Valley Water Supply Project, reducing its construction costs by $200 million and saving $4 million in annual operating costs,” said Sen. Hoeven.

By utilizing existing federal infrastructure, including the Snake Creek Pumping Plant and McClusky Canal, ENDAWS will drastically reduce construction costs. Another benefit of using existing infrastructure is the reduced operational costs due to a lower elevation and shorter pumping distance to convey water from McClusky Canal to the transmission pipeline.

“We are deeply grateful for the work North Dakota’s delegation put in to achieve this funding for ENDAWS,” says Tim Mahoney, LAWA Chairman and Fargo Mayor. “The construction and operational cost savings will make it more affordable to bring water from the Missouri River to central and eastern North Dakota. This is a big relief for the communities and water systems that are responsible for the local share of the Red River Valley Water Supply Project.”