Department of Water Resources

The 68th North Dakota Legislative Assembly passed House Bill 1218 replacing the Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) Project’s Advisory Committee created in 1991 with the NAWS Authority, which was signed into law by Governor Doug Burgum on April 12, 2023. The bill changed portions of North Dakota Century Code §61-24.6 that became effective on August 1, 2023. HB 1218 elevates the NAWS advisory committee to an authority and puts it in line with the other regional systems in the state as the delivery of Lake Sakakawea water to the project area is expected soon and the NAWS project progresses towards completion.

The NAWS Authority representatives in HB 1218 includes four representatives from the City of Minot, one representative of the cities with direct service from the project outside of Minot, one representative of the North Prairie Regional Water District, one representative of the All Seasons Water Users District, one representative of the Upper Souris Water District, one representative of the State Water Commission who resides in the Souris River basin, one non-voting representative of the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District, and one non-voting representative of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.