State Water Commission approves additional $2M for livestock water supply program to meet strong demand

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A factual summary is pending editorial review. The complete official release is reproduced below with issuer attribution and a direct link to the original publication.

Official release

Source material from North Dakota Department of Agriculture. The wording below is the issuer’s statement.

Drought relief program receives over 220 applications in first week

BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring today joined the State Water Commission in announcing an additional $2 million for the Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Project Assistance Program, as demand for the program has outstripped the initial $2 million approved last week.

The Commission voted Aug. 18 to activate the program after Armstrong declared a drought disaster for extremely dry conditions across North Dakota. The program provides cost-share assistance on projects including new water wells, rural water system connections, pipeline extensions and pasture taps.

The Department of Water Resources (DWR) received more than 220 applications in just the first week of the program, and funding would have run out today without the Commission’s action, with Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden chairing the meeting, to double the available cost-share assistance to $4 million. Armstrong also issued an amended executive order today making the program available to livestock producers in all North Dakota counties, rather than only those counties impacted by drought rated D2 (severe) or higher and adjacent counties and tribal nations.

“The intense demand for this water supply program demonstrates just how serious the drought situation is in North Dakota for our livestock producers,” Armstrong said. “This program will not only help more producers through the current drought but also make their operations more resilient against future droughts.”

The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday by the National Drought Mitigation Center showed 38.6% of North Dakota in moderate drought, 26.4% in severe drought, 5.9% in extreme drought and nearly 26% rated abnormally dry. Only 3.2% of the state was not affected by drought or abnormally dry conditions.

“There is a great need for water supply projects due to shortages caused by the ongoing drought,” Goehring said. “The additional funding will provide livestock producers with the assistance necessary to continue their operations after they were impacted at no fault of their own.”

The program is funded by oil extraction tax revenue, authorized by the State Water Commission and administered by DWR. Each producer is eligible for cost-share on up to three projects and may be reimbursed up to 65%, but no more than $10,000, of the eligible cost of each project.

“North Dakota producers have made it clear that there is a significant need for assistance with livestock water supplies,” DWR Director Reice Haase said. “Expanding the program statewide and increasing the available funding will allow us to help more producers address the challenges they are facing today while also making investments that strengthen their resilience for future droughts.”

Producers seeking more information about the program may call (701) 328-4959 or email dwrlivestock@nd.gov. Program details, eligibility requirements and application information are available at dwr.nd.gov.

The State Water Commission consists of eight members appointed by the governor, the agriculture commissioner, and the governor as chairperson. Cost-share funding approved by the SWC is primarily supported by North Dakota’s Resources Trust Fund, which receives 20.5% of the state’s oil extraction tax revenue.

Additional information on drought resources and current burn ban restrictions and fire danger levels is available at www.ndresponse.gov.

Release text attributed to North Dakota Department of Agriculture. Consult the official publication for any subsequent corrections or updates.