Coalition Sends Letter Opposing Funding for Out of Basin Water Transfer
Coalition Sends Letter Opposing Funding for Out of Basin Water Transfer
The Coalition to Protect the Missouri River (CPMR), of which MOFB is a member, sent a letter last week to Chairman Joe Manchin and Ranking Member John Barrasso of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, opposing the Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2024 that would authorize funds for projects that would allow water to be transferred out of the Missouri River basin. Namely, CPMR opposes $454 million to complete the McClusky Canal and the Missouri River North Alternative for the Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply Project, and any other related efforts.
In the letter, CPMR stated:
There continues to be a false assumption that the Missouri River basin is water abundant. Three years of reduced navigation flows and reduced winter flows to the Lower Missouri River due to drought demonstrate the need to carefully manage the system for stakeholders within the basin.
The reduced navigation support flows have a national and regional economic impact due to transportation costs as well as threaten critical drinking water supplies and energy production. Missouri River water should remain in the Missouri River Basin and we request that the committee not take action on any legislation that would allow water to be transferred outside of the basin.
