ND Water - October 2020
The Garrison Diversion Conservancy District (Garrison Diversion) board of directors consists of an elected official from each member county of the 28-member district. Directors are elected to serve their county for a four-year term.
The full board meets quarterly, with additional committees meeting at various points throughout each year.
A large variety of interests and backgrounds provide a diverse group of individuals, but collectively, they all have the same purpose in mind. The members work to fulfill Garrison Diversion’s mission to provide a reliable, high quality and affordable water supply to benefit the people of North Dakota.
As we continue profiling the directors who comprise the board, we introduce to you Rick Anderson, McLean County.
Rick Anderson has been a long-time advocate for North Dakota’s water industry. He has served McLean County on the Garrison Diversion bcoard since 1986, fulfilling the second vice chairman, vice chairman and chairman positions throughout the years, and is currently serving
on the Agriculture Committee. For his devotion to N.D.'s water industry, Rick was recognized in 2005 with the ND Water Wheel award from the North Dakota Water Users. In 2011, the Upper Missouri Water Association recognized Rick for his Distinguished service in water resource development. Originally from Neche, N.D., Anderson graduated from NDSU in 1966 with a bachelor of science in agricultural economics and currently farms with his son, Paul, near Coleharbor.
“I wanted to get active in water issues when we received clean water from McLean-Sheridan Rural Water in 1986,” says Rick. “Prior to connecting to rural water, we hauled our drinking water from town in
gallon jugs. Clean water is a blessing!”
Agriculture has played a large part in Anderson’s life as he has held distinguished positions with the McLean County and North Dakota Farm Bureau, U.S. Durum Growers Association and many other agricultural organizations. Rick was a 2011 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award for the Upper Missouri Water Association. He also served on the Underwood school board, the McLean County ASCS County Committee and South McLean Soil Conservation District, as well as participated on a multi-state church synod board. He and his wife, Charlotte, have two adult children.