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Logan County seeks Emmons County support for Missouri River irrigation feasibility study
Summary
Logan County and Moor Engineering presented a state-cost-shared feasibility study to explore bringing Missouri River water to western counties for irrigation; presenters asked Emmons County for a $25,000 local match to support outreach and early engineering work.
Logan County officials and Moore Engineering briefed the Emmons County Commission on a multi-county feasibility effort to evaluate whether Missouri River water can be developed for large-scale irrigation in western North Dakota.
Eric Hoburg, Logan County economic development director, told commissioners the project aims to complete an initial feasibility and public-engagement study funded 75% by the State Water Commission and 25% by local partners. Hoburg said Moore Engineering secured a $150,000 state grant for earlier work and is asking Logan and nearby counties to contribute $25,000 each as the local match for the next phase.
Carl Jackson of Moore Engineering said the planned two-phase study will gauge landowner interest, estimate irrigation demand, evaluate likely intake and pipeline scenarios, and produce cost estimates sufficient for landowners to vote on forming an irrigation district. Jackson said, "The end goal is to create — and the end goal is that if this project has merit and support from the landowners, support from the other affected stakeholders locally, it cannot move forward if there's not a district formed." He emphasized that the study’s purpose is to supply the detail landowners need to answer the key question: "How much is it going to cost me?"
Commissioners and residents asked whether Emmons County landowners had been contacted and whether commitments existed. Hoburg and Jackson said outreach has begun in Logan County but that Emmons County landowners have had limited exposure to the concept to date; Hoburg said a small number of Emmons County farmers had expressed interest and that the study period (6–9 months) would include public meetings and canvassing. Jackson said the state will not support larger funding until results from this scaled study show sufficient local interest and clearer cost estimates.
Commissioners pressed for visible local commitments before agreeing to contribute. One commissioner said he had called two local irrigators who were neutral and suggested the project organizers return with a list of landowners willing to sign letters of interest or provide small financial commitments. Hoburg said he would collect signatures and return to the commission with more specific local interest documentation.
No formal county vote was taken at the meeting; commissioners said they would consider funding after additional outreach and when a list of Emmons County landowners expressing interest or intent is available.
