Activities Related to Water Delivery
Valley County Sign-ups Are Underway - August 2007 

Dry Prairie began soliciting rural water customers in southern Valley County the first week of August 2007.  Only those individuals owning land in the areas designated for initial construction are being solicited.  The targeted areas encompasses landowners immediately southeast of Glasgow and the region south of the Milk River along and east of HWY 24 to Porcupine Creek and the Milk River - all of which is north of the Ft. Peck County Rural Water District.  The specific areas are labeled E, G & H on the map.  Rural water rates are composed of a Base Rate of $32.20 per month and a Consumption Rate of $1.25 per each 1,000 gallons metered.  The cost for an average rural household will be about $42.20 per month.

The Town of Nashua will also be supplied with water during this construction phase.  Water supplied to Nashua will be charged using a bulk rate as measured through a single meter.  Nashua will continue to operate their water distribution system and bill their customers.  The net increased cost per household in Nashua will be about $20.00 per month.

The rates above are preliminary and require a rural participation of about 80%.  That compares to a 95% participation rate in the areas already constructed in Roosevelt and Sheridan Counties.

Dry Prairie will acquire water for these Valley County customers from the MARCO Water facility located at the town of St. Marie.

"A" Branchline Nearing Completion - November 2006

Construction of the "A" Branchlines has connected the Town of Bainville and about 200 rural services to Dry Prairie's Mainline.  Agri Industries, the pipeline contractor from Williston, ND has installed the last of the service lines and is engaged in final clean up of the pipeline route.  Final inspection will follow and final payment will be made when all completion items are accomplished.  The contractor will supply the standard one year warranty on the system.

Engineering America, a Minnesota contractor has completed the two water storage tanks that supply the Mainline and the A-Branchline System.  The insulated tanks hold 500,000 gallons each and contribute greatly to the system's reliability.  Located 3.5 miles north of Culbertson, the tanks are strategically positioned on high ground at about 2,400 ft elevation.  This height provides enough pressure to fill the water tanks in the Towns of Medicine Lake, Froid and Bainville, without using pumps.

One small booster station was installed near the Town of Bainville as part of the branchline system.  This station adds pressure to the water and allows delivery to the higher elevations near the Montana/North Dakota State Line and to users directly south of Bainville.

 

 Construction Begins on Phase Two – The “A” Branch Project
     March 2006

Agri Industries boring under the County Road North of Froid, April 2006.It was a cold windy morning on March 9th, when the first construction activities began on Dry Prairie’s second phase of construction – the “A” Branchline Project.  An Agri-Industries boring crew and equipment began the work of boring under the County Line Road north of Froid.  Agri-Industries of Williston, North Dakota was awarded the $5.5 million construction contract on March 2nd, 2006.  The contract includes 190 miles of pipeline ranging in size from 1.5” to 8” in diameter.  When completed in November of 2006, the new lines will supply the Town of Bainville and 188 rural households in Sheridan and Roosevelt counties with treated drinking water.

 

 Mainline Water Delivery Begins – October 2004

On October 27, 2004 Dry Prairie began to deliver drinking water to about 750 residents in the Froid and Medicine Lake area. The water is presently being supplied from the Missouri River through Culbertson's water treatment plant. After years of planning, the first segment of construction is now complete, marking a much anticipated milestone. Subsequent segments are presently being designed that will be attached to the recently completed mainline. This will allow more rural residents to be served by the system.

 

  Ribbon Cutting Ceremony - August 2004

Congressman Denny Rehberg addressed a crowd of over 300 people at the Ribbon Cutting ceremony held August 24, 2004.About 300 people attended a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony in Medicine Lake on August 24, 2004. This event marked the completion about 30 miles of the 14" pipeline construction from Culbertson to Medicine Lake. Rick Knick, Dry Prairie Chairman was the Master of Ceremonies. Speakers included: Ray K. Eder, Fort Peck Tribal Chairman; Tim Hutslar, Mayor of Medicine Lake; Terry Peterson, Mayor of Froid; Jeff Wivholm, Chairman of the Sheridan County Conservation District; Congressman Denny Rehberg; Bud Clinch, Director of Montana DNRC; and Pinkie Evans-Curry, Friend of Dry Prairie. Representatives for Senator Max Baucus, The Montana Governor's Office, and the Bureau of Reclamation were also speakers for the event.

 

  "A" Branchline Participation - April 2004

90% of Potential Users Participate in "A" Branchlines. 

April 30, 2004 was the cut off date for participation in the "A" Branchline area. One Hundred and eighty-three (183) rural users within the area have signed Water User Agreements and paid the necessary hook up fees.  Before solicitation began, the estimated level of participation was expected to be 80%.  The actual level is over 90%.  Those who chose not to participate can still be included in the system, however, the cost will be slightly more.

With the sign-up complete, the location and expected water consumption of each has been supplied to the project engineers in order to finalize the "A" Branchline design. Completion of the design  will include the detail of the exact line sizes and locations.

 

  Groundbreaking Ceremony - August 2003

An estimated 250 people took part in the Dry Prairie Groundbreaking Ceremony held on August 28th, 2003, near the Culbertson water treatment facilities. Speaking at the event included Senator Max Baucus, Representative Denny Rehberg, Pam Crisafulli who represented Senator Conrad Burns, Lt. Governor Karl Ohs, State Senator Linda Nelson, John Tubbs- DNRC, Jari Beek- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Tribal Chairman Arlyn Headdress, Roosevelt Co. Conservation District Chairman Buzz Mattlelin, Culbertson Mayor Gordon Oelkers, and Master of Ceremonies and Dry Prairie Chairman Rick Knick. Many spoke of the hard work and cooperative effort that had been required toward making the project a reality. After the Dry Prairie board and the dignitaries had used the "gold shovels" to turn the first spades of dirt, the event moved to the National Guard Armory for a meal and continued celebration.

 

  EQIP Funds Will Supply Dry Prairie's Water to Livestock - June '03

Several area livestock produces have signed EQIP Contracts for the construction of livestock pipelines, water tanks and cross fences. Water for these improvements will be supplied by Dry Prairie's Culbertson to Medicine Lake Mainline. Producers from both Sheridan and Roosevelt Counties will benefit with the cost share and technical assistance furnished by the Montana NRCS. The contracts are directed toward practices that will provide direct benefit to rangeland and pastures. This years funding will benefit about 3,800 acres of rangeland with the installation of 8 miles of pipeline and related fixtures. There is capacity for additional livestock water along the Mainline and additional contracts are anticipated in the coming years. The entire Dry Prairie service area has the potential to serve about 400 livestock producers and benefit about 1,000,000 acres of rangeland. Producers who are interested in pipeline water for livestock should contact NRCS representatives at 787-5232 or the Dry Prairie Office at 787-5382.