Testimony Provided to The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
April 16, 2001
by: Richard Fugleberg, Chairman
Garrison Diversion Conservancy District
Chairman Domenici and members of the Subcommittee:
Over the years, Garrison Diversion Unit appropriations have been used to provide a reliable, high quality water supply to rural communities in need throughout North Dakota and to maintain the 120 miles of canals and pumping plants already in place. The Garrison Diversion Project continues to be the backbone of a series of rural water projects to serve municipal, rural and industrial water needs in North Dakota. Completing Garrison Diversion will assure our citizens affordable access to an adequate quantity and quality water supply for municipal, rural and industrial systems. In addition, Garrison Diversion programs and funding are the key to future economic development, recreation, tourism and wildlife enhancement in our state. The President's budget request includes $25,900,000 for the Garrison Diversion Unit. An additional $14,100,000 is needed to continue the important work of the MR&I program to serve Indian and non-Indian needs on four North Dakota reservations, as well as a variety of projects across the state. Additional appropriations will continue a very successful effort to develop rural water supply systems across the state. This funding impacts the lives of families and business owners statewide who are working to provide a basic water infrastructure that will serve as a base for efforts to stop the devastating out migration of North Dakota's most valuable resource, her young people. Meeting the Indian MR&I needs also concerns North Dakotans. The four Indian reservations in the state face some of the most severe water problems in North Dakota. The unmet needs on the reservations are growing. Additional appropriations and an appropriate ceiling increase will allow tribal leaders to continue working on their most critical water needs. Additional funding is desperately needed to continue this important program. We concur that this need is of the highest priority. The Dakota Water Resources Act provides for a full evaluation and completion of an Environmental Impact Statement on the ways to meet the water quality and quantity needs in the Red River Valley. Funding is needed to continue this important work already underway. Mr. Chairman, we fully support and appreciate the committee's current and past efforts in regard to funding for the Garrison Diversion Unit. Because water is a valuable resource in North Dakota, we are committed to finding solutions to our state's water needs. Of additional concern, Mr. Chairman, is the overall Bureau of Reclamation budget. Current trends show this budget number has been shrinking on an annual basis. Additional funding and a redirection of the funding allowed for "water supply programs" is definitely needed. Although water conservation, water reuse and restoring fish and wildlife resources are important, the Bureau's budget needs to be refocused and increased to place more emphasis on completing the authorized projects already on the books. We would strongly request that you support efforts to increase the overall budget of the Bureau of Reclamation. The Bureau's budget has been cut 36 percent from FY91 to FY2000. This is the primary Federal agency that we rely upon for funding of our infrastructure needs. We know the Bureau of Reclamation has a $5 billion backlog of work. That work, which includes our project, as well as any new authorizations in this Congress, will not be addressed in a timely manner if the Bureau continues to be cut and underfunded. We support the western water industry's campaign to increase the Bureau's Water and Related Resources budget over a five-year period from its present $719,000,000 to $1,000,000,000.
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