Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026

Key Points

• The bill authorizes over $1.4 billion in new federal spending to build and complete water infrastructure projects across North Dakota, including water treatment plants, pump stations, pipelines, and rural distribution systems.
• A major share of the funding — $743 million — is dedicated to completing rural water systems on five Native American reservations: Spirit Lake ($118M), Three Affiliated Tribes ($275M), Standing Rock ($240M), Turtle Mountain ($98M), and Lake Traverse ($12M for a feasibility study and construction).
• The bill funds several large state water supply projects, including $404 million for the Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply Project and $120 million for the Northwest Area Water Supply, designed to bring Missouri River water to communities facing shortages.
• All authorized funding amounts are indexed to construction cost changes, so the dollar figures can adjust upward if materials and labor get more expensive over time.
• The bill allows up to 50% of authorized funds to be transferred between projects, giving the Secretary flexibility to shift money where it's most needed, and requires final engineering reports within 2 years of enactment.