Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act
Summary
HB7331, the Dakota Mainstem Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act, would direct the Secretary of the Interior to study whether it is feasible to construct a water supply project serving the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System service area. The proposed service area includes communities and users in South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota, and the project is described as providing municipal, rural, and industrial water. The bill does not authorize construction of the project itself; it authorizes only a feasibility study.
The bill sets out the framework for that study by requiring the Secretary to work with the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System through a cooperative agreement and to follow Reclamation feasibility standards under federal regulations. It also defines the nonfederal project entity as Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System, Inc., a nonprofit corporation intended to serve in that role. The bill authorizes up to $10 million for the study, limits the federal share of study costs to no more than 50 percent, and sunsets the authority 10 years after enactment.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would affect federal reclamation and water resources planning by creating a specific Interior Department study mandate for a regional water supply project in the Upper Midwest. It would not itself change state water law, but it could influence future federal-state-local water infrastructure decisions and potentially lead to later authorization or construction of a multi-state municipal, rural, and industrial water system. The bill also establishes a federal funding authorization and a cost-sharing structure for the feasibility work.
Sentiment
Based on the available context, the bill appears to be treated as a technical, infrastructure-oriented measure rather than a controversial policy proposal. The absence of recorded votes or committee debate suggests there is no documented opposition or support in the provided materials, and the subcommittee has held hearings on the measure. Overall, the bill’s posture indicates procedural interest in evaluating the project’s feasibility.
Contention
The main potential point of contention is whether the federal government should spend up to $10 million on a feasibility study and whether the project should proceed at all, especially given the multi-state scope and the requirement for a federal-local cost share. Another possible issue is the use of a nonprofit regional water system as the nonfederal project entity and whether the proposal meets Reclamation feasibility standards. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided record.
Supporting congressional authorization for, and federal participation in, major rural water supply projects identified by the South Dakota Association of Rural Water Systems.
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a feasibility study on a selective water withdrawal system at Glen Canyon Dam, and for other purposes.