North Dakota Department of Water Resources outlines major projects, data priorities and funding shortfalls

Reese Haas, the new director of the North Dakota Department of Water Resources, told the House and Senate energy committees that the department will focus on managing the state’s water resources, advancing major pipeline projects and expanding real‑time data collection while confronting a persistent funding gap.

"For the record, my name is Reese Haas. And today is my first official day on the job as your new director of the Department of Water Resources," Haas said, opening a wide‑ranging overview of agency responsibilities and projects.

Haas said the department — reorganized into a cabinet agency during the 2021 legislative session — has six divisions and 93 full‑time employees and answers directly to Governor Armstrong. He emphasized the department’s role in administering water rights under North Dakota law and channeling oil‑extraction tax revenue into the Water Resources Trust Fund.

The report outlined several multi‑year projects. The Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) pipeline is expected to begin delivering Lake Sakakawea water in 2025 after a protracted cross‑border review with Canada; funding for NAWS in the 2023–25 biennium included $6.9 million from the city of Minot, $12.6 million in federal funds and $9.5 million from the state resources trust fund. The Southwest Pipeline Project serves roughly 58,000 people and 7,600 rural customers; the west‑zone…