Press

December 19, 2002

Rocky Boy’s/North Central Montana Regional Water System Receives Congressional and White House Support

Helena, Mont. — On Friday, December 13, 2002, President George Bush signed Senate Bill 2017, making authorization of the Rocky Boy’s/North Central Montana Regional Water System a law, and moving the project one significant step closer to a working reality.

The signing authorizes the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to design and construct and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to oversee operation and maintenance of the regional system, through the Indian Financing Act of 2002. Now Montana ’s congressional delegates, in cooperation with their fellow lawmakers, can begin work on appropriating the $180 million dollars needed for the project over the 10-plus year period required for construction of the project. An additional $40 million will be provided by state grants and loans to local water users through the North Central Montana Regional Water Authority. Currently, project sponsors are awaiting receipt of $350,000 of federal funds previously appropriated by Congress for engineering studies and analysis.

Dan Bushnell

Related resources

• Statement of John W. Keys III
• montana.gov
• Back to North Central Water System page