North Dakota Code 61-24.5-01 – Findings and declaration of policy
1. Many areas and localities in southwestern North Dakota do not enjoy adequate quantities of high-quality drinking water. Other areas and localities in southwestern North Dakota do not have sufficient quantities of water to ensure a dependable, long-term supply. Supplementation of the water resources of southwestern North Dakota, with water supplies from Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River, utilizing a pipeline transmission and delivery system, is a feasible approach to provide southwestern North Dakota with a safe, good quality, dependable source, and adequate quantity of water.
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 61-24.5-01
- Property: includes property, real and personal. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
2. Opportunity for greater economic security, protection of health, property, enterprise, preservation of the benefits from the land and water resources of this state, and the promotion of the prosperity and general welfare of all of the people of North Dakota depends on the effective development and utilization of the land and water resources of this state, and require the exercise of the sovereign powers of the state and concern a public purpose. To accomplish this public purpose, a project to supply and distribute water to southwestern North Dakota, as authorized by chapter 61-24.3 must be established and constructed, to:
a. Provide for the supply and distribution of water to the people of southwestern North Dakota through a pipeline transmission and delivery system for purposes including domestic, rural water, municipal, livestock, light industrial, mining, and other uses, with primary emphasis on domestic, rural water, and municipal uses.
b. Provide for the future economic welfare and property of the people of this state, and particularly the people of southwestern North Dakota, by making available waters from Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River for beneficial and public uses.
3. It is necessary to study and further develop water resources to provide adequate water supplies for energy, industrial, agriculture, and other opportunities in southwest North Dakota. This section may not be construed to limit the rights, powers, duties, and functions of the state water commission or the department of water resources, but must be considered supplementary to those rights, powers, duties, and functions.