Hoeven Secures $50 Million for ENDAWS, $100-$120 Million for Local Cost Share of Red River Valley Flood Protection Both Measures Generate Millions in Savings for North Dakota[...]

Hoeven Secures $50 Million for ENDAWS, $100-$120 Million for Local Cost Share of Red River Valley Flood Protection Both Measures Generate Millions in Savings for North Dakota Taxpayers

WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Committee, secured two major provisions advancing critical water projects for eastern North Dakota in the appropriations legislation passed by the U.S. Senate today. These include:

• $50 million for the Eastern North Dakota Area Water Supply (ENDAWS) project, and ability to use existing infrastructure which will save $200 million.
• Hoeven-sponsored legislation directing the Corps to apply $100-120 million in federal savings to reduce the local cost share of flood protection in the Red River Valley.

"By passing legislation to create the first-in-the-nation public-private partnership (P3) and providing the federal funding upfront, the federal portion of flood protection for the Red River Valley is ahead of schedule and under budget. With this legislation in place, those savings will go to the diversion authority, providing $100-120 million that North Dakota taxpayers won't have to pay," said Hoeven.

"At the same time, we secured $50 million to start ENDAWS, which combined with authority to use existing infrastructure will save taxpayers $200 million. We are effectively bringing one historic effort, the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion, to a close while getting rolling on another project critical to the future of the region, and importantly with the legislation we secured today, we will save North Dakota taxpayer dollars on these projects without increasing federal costs. We look forward to reviewing these important provisions next week in Fargo with the Fargo Moorhead Diversion Authority and Garrison Diversion Conservancy District," Hoeven said.

"On top of that, we secured support for important national security, water development and public safety initiatives across the state. This includes additional funding for the spillway safety project at the Garrison Dam, which is essential to the long-term integrity of the dam."

Advancing ENDAWS

• Hoeven has been working to fully fund ENDAWS, which uses water from the Bureau of Reclamation's (BOR) Snake Creek Pumping Station and the McClusky Canal to bring a more reliable, drought-resistant water supply to central and eastern North Dakota.
• The legislation enables North Dakota to use existing BOR infrastructure. The Garrison Diversion Conservancy District estimates that this alternative water supply would reduce project costs for the state-led Red River Valley Water Supply Project (RRVWSP) by $200 million while also saving on operating costs.
• The funding secured today follows Hoeven's efforts with the North Dakota delegation to secure a completed Environmental Impact Study (EIS) and a signed Record of Decision (ROD) for ENDAWS, which were issued in 2021.

$100-120 Million for Red River Valley Flood Protection

• This is the 17th piece of legislation passed by Hoeven to advance flood protection for the Fargo-Moorhead region. Previously, Hoeven passed legislation to construct comprehensive flood protection utilizing a first-in-the-nation, public-private partnership (P3) and secured the full $750 million federal cost share up front in 2022, enabling the Army Corps to complete its work ahead of schedule and under budget.
• The Army Corps estimates the cost for the federal portion of the project will be significantly lower than $750 million, and any remaining balance is to be transferred to the local sponsors, but not until the project is closed out in 2031.
• Accordingly, Hoeven's legislation passed today accelerates this funding. The goal is to get $100-120 million in federal support to the diversion authority this year, reducing the cost to construct the local side of the project.

The legislative package includes the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills for Energy and Water Development (EWD); Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS); and Interior-Environment. In addition to the funding for eastern North Dakota, Hoeven worked as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee to advance the following priorities in these bills:

Water Development

• $18.5 million in Planning, Engineering and Design (PED) funding to support the Garrison Dam Safety Modification Project. Hoeven has secured $45.7 million for the project's design phase to date.
• $14.1 million for the Army Corps Section 594 program, which supports small water infrastructure projects like sanitary sewer systems in rural areas.

National Security

• Includes $1.91 billion to advance nuclear modernization on systems which will be deployed at Minot Air Force Base, including developing the warheads for:
  • The Air Force's Long Range Stand Off (LRSO) missile.
  • The Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Public Safety

• A total of $5.5 million for the continued operation and expansion of the Advanced Training Center (ATC) at Camp Grafton and address law enforcement needs in Indian Country.
• Continues Hoeven's SURVIVE Act, which sets aside $97.5 million, or 5 percent, from the U.S. Department of Justice Crime Victim Fund to assist with tribal victim services.
• $44 million for the Regional Information Sharing System (RISS) Program, which supports secure communications and information sharing services to combat multi-jurisdictional crime.

Commerce

• National Rural Export Center: Maintains $1 million for the National Rural Export Center in Fargo and up to $1 million for the Rural Export Centers nationwide.

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