Jill Schramm/MDN Shown Tuesday is a portion of the Broadway pump station project, part of the flood control enhancement, which is under construction at the intersection with Fourth Avenue, near the Broadway Bridge.

The Minot region will have access to $82.5 million for flood control and $100 million for the Northwest Water Supply Project as part of state water funding approved by the Legislature and governor for the next two years.

“The water commission budget bill was huge for Minot,” said Ryan Ackerman, administrator for the Souris River Joint Board. “We are satisfied.”

Minot Public Works Director Dan Jonasson also voiced satisfaction with the funding for the city’s major water projects. The final amount settled on for flood protection will advance various aspects of the project.

“It will keep things moving along at a pretty good pace,” Jonasson said.

Minot had initially hoped for $100 million for flood protection, which had been the amount included in a funding plan developed by water stakeholders across the state. However, the State Water Commission prepared a budget giving the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project $70 million. That was the amount promoted by Gov. Doug Burgum in his proposed budget. The state Senate approved $65 million, and that amount became $82.5 million in the House. The House funding level eventually was sustained in conference and signed onto by the governor.

Within Minot city limits, the money will allow for about $11 million in property acquisitions and the start of construction on the $40 million MI-5 phase, which could be a two- to three-year project. This phase extends from the Third Street bridge to the east tieback levee. The city is working with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad on rail property included in this section. The state’s share of the construction cost is 65 percent.

The money also will allow for further design of the Maple Diversion and MI-6, which is flood wall and levee improvements on the south side of the river from downtown through Eastwood Park, Ackerman said.

“Outside of city limits, there also is significant work planned,” he said.

About $30 million in levee improvements are planned in Burlington and $20 million in improvements at Tierrecita Vallejo, along with $4.3 million in acquisitions and also some water conveyance improvements. Tierrecita Vallejo is a residential development located near the northwest corner of the U.S. Highway 83 Bypass and the U.S. Highway 2.

The Burlington levee project could start this fall once work finishes on the Colton Bridge replacement, set to begin soon.

Ackerman said the joint board was pleased legislators included an emergency clause for the water funding in the Office of Management and Budget bill – the final bill passed by the Legislature. The water commission bill, Senate Bill 2020, fell just short of getting the votes for an emergency clause to pass. The emergency clause allows the bill to take effect immediately rather than waiting until August. Although money isn’t likely to be spent immediately, the emergency status means procurement work could start shortly after the State Water Commission Board meeting in June.

Having those two extra months for planning is important logistically, Ackerman said. It aids in timing bid letting and working around wildlife or other federal regulations that might restrict construction during certain times.

“One or two months delay in funding authority can turn into a full year delay,” he said in describing the importance of timing.

“It give us a lot of additional flexibility to get the work done,” he said of the emergency clause.

Ackerman said the joint board also would like to advance about $7 million worth of construction on the $88 million Maple Diversion. This work would be part of the 35 percent local cost share. Federal dollars are being sought for this phase of the project.

The $82.5 million appropriated by the Legislature for Souris River flood control includes $46.6 million for work within Minot. That amount combined with this biennium’s appropriation brings state spending to about $104 million of the $193 million promised to Minot over eight years.

As for NAWS, the legislation provides a $75 million line of credit that allows the State Water Commission to fund the entire cost of a proposed biota treatment plant at the southeast corner of Max. Plans are to complete design and be ready to bid the estimated $60 million pre-treatment plant in 2020, Jonasson said.

The state also would pay for retrofitting of the intake structure at the Snake Creek Pump Station and pipeline to the biota plant.

The Legislature approved $25 million for additional pipeline to extend NAWS water to Bottineau and also to construct a booster pump station and storage reservoir near Lansford.

This fall, an expansion at the Minot Water Treatment Plant will be completed, increasing the plant’s capacity to serve NAWS to 18 million gallons a day. Another phase of construction will be needed at the Minot plant to upgrade treatment basins and increase capacity to 27 mgd, Jonasson said.

However, water delivery from Minot’s aquifers is limited to 15 mgd. Before NAWS can provide full flow, there must be water coming from Lake Sakakawea, Jonasson said.

Additionally, the water legislation includes money that could provide $2.8 million for a new water tower in southwest Minot to help with flows for fire protection. Jonasson said the added capacity is needed with the construction of a hospital complex and other growth occurring in that area. The tower to be erected in the area of 30th Street and 37th Avenue Southwest would be able to possibly store up to 1.5 million gallons of water – similar to a recently erected tower in northwest Minot.