Land Management Committee recommends debris-removal subcommittee to Diversion Authority

The Land Management Committee unanimously voted to recommend that the Diversion Authority establish a post‑operation debris removal and property damage restoration subcommittee.

Members advanced the recommendation after staff described a provision in the Feb. 2021 settlement with the Wilkin–Richland County JPA that called for a planning subcommittee to handle cleanup and restoration following project operations in the UMA area. Mister Shotley, who presented the proposal to the committee, said the subcommittee would include two producers appointed by the Wilkin–Richland JPA, one recommended by the Cass County Joint Water Resource District, three members from the Land Management Committee (two with technical backgrounds), and two additional producers from the Richland/Wilkin staging area.

Shotley said the subcommittee is intended to advise on cleanup processes — for example, removal of crop residue or trees — and on contracting actions such as RFPs once planning advances. He described an anticipated timeline with initial subcommittee meetings in June, additional meetings later in the year and final plans issued later in the year with associated procurement documents.

Committee members moved that the committee recommend adoption of the resolution to the Diversion Authority board. The clerk called the roll and all recorded members voted yes. The chair ruled the motion adopted and said the recommendation would be forwarded to the full Diversion Authority for final approval.

The committee’s recommendation is advisory; the Diversion Authority board will consider formal adoption at its next meeting. The presenter emphasized that the subcommittee will follow North Dakota open‑meetings law and include active producers to ensure practical input on cleanup operations.