North Dakota Department of Water Resources details projects, funding shortfalls and data initiatives

Rhys Haas, director of the North Dakota Department of Water Resources, gave a first‑day presentation to the House Appropriations Committee describing the agency’s organization, major projects and funding outlook.

Haas said the department’s “mission is to responsibly manage North Dakota’s water needs, and risks for the people's benefits,” and described a mix of statewide programs including a cost‑share program funded from the Resources Trust Fund, regulatory duties, dam safety and data collection initiatives.

The department told lawmakers it manages 93 full‑time employees across administrative, regulatory, appropriations and planning divisions and that the Resources Trust Fund—seeded by oil extraction tax revenue—remains the primary source for state water investments. Chris Katamus, director of administrative services for the department, told the committee the department’s current carryover estimate range is “from 560,000,000 to $653,000,000,” and said the final carryover amount will depend on project sponsors’ progress.

Why this matters: the department’s 10‑year water development plan identifies roughly $2.9 billion in needs while projected oil tax deposits are far smaller; leaders told the committee the Resources Trust Fund alone will not meet long‑term demand.

Major projects and timelines - Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS): department staff said NAWS will serve…