Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026

The Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026 aims to increase the amount of federal money available for water infrastructure projects across North Dakota. The bill proposes to raise the "funding ceiling" for the state’s grant programs, which would allow for the completion of major ongoing initiatives like the Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) and the Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply (ENDAWS). These projects are designed to provide more reliable, drought-resistant drinking water to municipal, rural, and industrial users by moving water from the Missouri River to areas with limited supply.

If enacted, the legislation would also provide significant financial support for water systems serving five Tribal Nations: the Spirit Lake Tribe, the Three Affiliated Tribes, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, and the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate. Specifically, it proposes hundreds of millions of dollars in dedicated funding for tribal rural water systems to improve water treatment and distribution. Additionally, the bill seeks to ensure the federal government covers the full costs of certain water treatment facilities required by international treaties, reducing the financial burden on local North Dakota taxpayers.