Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8745
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Water Resources Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-12: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-12T21:08:04Z
AI-Generated Summary
Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act (H.R. 8745)
Purpose
The legislation authorizes federal support for the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System to provide a safe and adequate municipal, rural, and industrial water supply to residents of Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Prairie, and Richland Counties in Montana, as well as McKenzie County in North Dakota.
Key Provisions
- Authorization and Scope: The Secretary of the Interior may construct the Water System in line with the October 2025 Bureau of Reclamation feasibility study (including revisions), with livestock watering allowed beyond incidental noncommercial use.
- Cooperative Agreement: The Secretary must enter into an agreement with the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority (a nonprofit entity under Montana law) for planning, design, and construction.
- Cost Sharing: The federal share is capped at 75% of total costs (or a lower amount set by the Secretary), with funds non-reimbursable under reclamation laws; title to the system remains with the Authority.
- Eligible Uses of Funds: Federal funds may support water intake, pumping, treatment, storage, transmission pipelines, pumping stations, appurtenant facilities, electrical infrastructure, interconnections with existing public systems, and upgrades to pre-existing distribution facilities.
- Power Allocation: The Western Area Power Administration must supply firm power from the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Program to meet the system's operational needs, with the Authority responsible for payment and any necessary non-federal transmission upgrades.
- Water Rights Protection: The Act does not preempt or alter state water laws or state authority to manage water resources.
- Funding: Authorizes $602,000,000 for fiscal years 2027 through 2037, adjustable for inflation, engineering cost indices, and unforeseen market changes.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill creates a new project-specific authorization under the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act framework, extending federal assistance to a multi-county rural water system that includes cross-border service to North Dakota. It establishes a dedicated power supply mechanism from the Pick-Sloan Program for impact counties (McCone and Garfield), while clarifying that federal funds cannot cover ongoing operation, maintenance, or replacement costs.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities for the Bureau of Reclamation (planning and construction oversight) and the Western Area Power Administration (power delivery and rate setting); requires coordination with state and local utilities.
- Citizens: Improves access to reliable water infrastructure for rural and municipal users in the designated counties, potentially reducing reliance on existing systems.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority and its successor entities.
- Residents and local governments in the five Montana counties and McKenzie County, North Dakota.
- The Department of the Interior (Bureau of Reclamation) and Western Area Power Administration.
- Existing public water systems and non-federal utilities in the service area.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The Act explicitly preserves state sovereignty over water resources, avoiding preemption issues. It involves federal funding for infrastructure in designated impact areas from prior dam construction, with potential for interstate coordination between Montana and North Dakota. No major constitutional concerns are raised in the text, though the non-reimbursable federal cost share represents a departure from standard reclamation repayment requirements.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-12: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2026-05-12: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-12: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act — issued 2026-05-12 — PDF (10 pages)