The Water Commission on Tuesday, June 8, approved an additional $2 million in funding for the Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Assistance Program (Program). In total, $4.1 million has been authorized through multiple approvals since the Program was reactivated in April 2021.
The Program was originally created in 1991 and was last activated in 2017. It is geared toward eligible livestock producers experiencing drought-related impacts to their operations in counties impacted by extreme drought (D3) intensity levels, as well as adjacent counties. In order for a livestock producer to be eligible, they must receive at least 50 percent of their annual gross income from farming or ranching.
The Program provides 50 percent cost-share assistance, of up to $4,500 per project, with a maximum of three projects per applicant. Eligible project items include: new water wells; rural water system connections; pipeline extensions; pasture taps and associated works; and labor, materials, and equipment rentals for work completed by the producer to develop new water supply projects.
Since the Program’s reactivation on April 8, 2021, over $2.2 million in funding has been approved in support of 573 projects for 398 producers.
Application forms and additional information are available on the Water Commission’s website at www.swc.nd.gov. For further details regarding the Program, please contact the Water Commission’s Planning and Education Division at (701) 328-4989.
The 10-member Water Commission consists of Gov. Doug Burgum as chairman, Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, and eight members appointed by the governor to serve six-year terms.