ND: Feds to issue permits for Missouri River water
Army Corps to issue water permits for Missouri River water in North Dakota for industry
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) -- Gov. Jack Dalrymple and North Dakota's congressional delegation say the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will soon issue permits to tap surplus water from Lake Sakakawea for use by oil companies and other industrial users.
State officials say the corps is reviewing several applications that would draw more than 30,000 acre feet of water from the Missouri River reservoir. An acre-foot is the amount of water covering an acre, one foot deep.
Dalrymple and the state's congressional delegation maintain that North Dakota owns Missouri River water in the state and it should be made permanently available to water users at no cost. North Dakota officials say the state will fight any attempt to charge users for water in the future.
