Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4489
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Water Resources Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-12T21:07:36Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation authorizes federal support for the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority System to provide a safe and adequate supply of municipal, rural, and industrial water to residents in specified counties in Montana and North Dakota.
Key Provisions
- Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to carry out the Water System project in line with a Bureau of Reclamation feasibility study dated October 2025, with the condition that livestock watering is not restricted to incidental noncommercial uses.
- Requires the Secretary to enter a cooperative agreement with the Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority (a nonprofit entity) for planning, design, and construction.
- Limits the federal cost share to no more than 75 percent of total project costs (or a lower amount set by the Secretary), with these funds not subject to repayment under reclamation laws.
- Allows federal funds to cover facilities such as water pumping, treatment, storage, transmission pipelines, pumping stations, electrical power infrastructure, and related items; existing public water systems may also be improved or repaired.
- Directs the Western Area Power Administration to supply power from the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Program at the firm power rate to meet the Water System’s operational needs, with the Authority responsible for payment and any necessary transmission upgrades.
- Authorizes $602 million in appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2037, adjustable for cost changes due to inflation or market conditions.
- Explicitly states that the Act does not preempt or alter state water laws or state authority to manage water resources.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Creates a new, specific authorization for this regional water system under the Clean Water for Rural Communities Act framework.
- Establishes a dedicated federal power allocation from the Pick-Sloan Program for the project’s operations.
- Sets a fixed federal funding cap and non-reimbursable status for construction costs, differing from standard reclamation repayment requirements.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Involves the Department of the Interior (Bureau of Reclamation) in project oversight and the Western Area Power Administration in power delivery; may require coordination with non-federal utilities for transmission.
- Citizens: Provides improved access to reliable water supplies for rural communities in the covered Montana counties and western McKenzie County, North Dakota.
- International relations: No direct effects identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority and its successor entities.
- Residents and local governments in Dawson, Garfield, McCone, Prairie, and Richland Counties in Montana, plus the portion of McKenzie County, North Dakota, west of the Yellowstone River.
- Federal agencies including the Secretary of the Interior and the Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration.
- Existing public water systems that may interconnect with or be upgraded by the project.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Reinforces federal-state balance by preserving all existing state water rights and management authority.
- Allocates federal resources (funding and power) to a specific rural infrastructure project without creating broader precedent for similar systems.
- Limits federal involvement to construction and initial planning, with ongoing operation, maintenance, and replacement costs borne by the Authority.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2026-05-12: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authorization Act — issued 2026-05-12 — PDF (10 pages)