Two Traill County communities have made the first official step towards joining the Red River Valley Water Supply Project (RRVWSP). Leaders from the Cities of Hillsboro and Mayville signed and submitted Memorandums of Commitment (MOC) to Garrison Diversion Conservancy District and Lake Agassiz Water Authority (LAWA), the state co-sponsors of the RRVWSP. 

Mayville and Hillsboro each nominated for .5 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water from the RRVWSP. When the RRVWSP is constructed, a buried 72-inch pipeline will transport Missouri River water at up to 165 cfs to cities and rural water systems from central North Dakota to the Red River Valley where Hillsboro and Mayville are located.

Levi Reese, Hillsboro City Commission President, says planning for the future is the biggest factor in Hillsboro’s decision to move forward with RRVWSP participation. “With the growing demand on infrastructure that is needed in today’s world, we know we need to prepare for the future. This water supply gives the community a backup to a very limited resource,” he explains. “We have plenty of water for today and tomorrow, but we cannot predict what the future will hold for Hillsboro. This resource gives our community stability so that if there is a need or an issue in the future, we can keep the water running to our residents and to industry.”

Mayville Council Member Bill Bohnsack has been involved with discussions about the RRVWSP for many years as the LAWA Director representing Mayville. He says he is glad Mayville has committed to the supplemental water supply. “I believe access to water is going to become increasingly important in the future. We’ve got to have a reliable water supply for any future growth,” says Bohnsack.   

RRVWSP representatives have been meeting with rural water systems, cities, and counties in 2024 to provide information about the benefits and costs associated with RRVWSP participation. The Carrington City Council and Valley City’s City Commission voted to approve participation in the RRVWSP. The next step will be for each city to submit a signed MOC.

A signed MOC indicates a water system intends to execute the Project Participation Agreement (PPA) to be part of the RRVWSP and will identify the specific water supply nomination from the RRVWSP.  The MOC also means the water system agrees to provide funding for their allocated share of the local portion of the 2023-2025 RRVWSP Work Plan. If a system ultimately decides not to sign the PPA, another LAWA member could negotiate to take on the nomination rights and obligations before the PPA is signed.