P.O. Box 577 Culbertson, MT 59218 Phone: 406-787-5382 Fax: 406-787-5392 Email: dprw@nemontel.net

"Dry Prairie Rural Water is committed to delivering clean, affordable and dependable drinking water that will improve the quality of life and create economic opportunities throughout northeast Montana."

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Questions and Answers

How will water rights be obtained for the project?

The tribes own water rights to 1 million acre-feet of the Missouri River annually dating back to 1888.  Approximately 7 million acre feet  flow through northeast Montana every year, and this system will use about 6,000 acre feet annually.  The Tribes have offered DPRW the use of their water rights at no cost for the life of the system. The Tribes have shown a great deal of neighborliness and are committed to seeing this system work to the benefit of all participants. 

What is the monthly cost to water users in the Dry Prairie service area?  

The estimated cost per month is $40.00, based on the average household usage. This estimate includes the cost of operation, maintenance, and debt service. 

 

Is the service area within the Fort Peck Indian Reservation different than the service area outside the Reservation?  

Yes, the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes will be responsible for their distribution system, as will DPRW for their system. The common facilities such as the intake facility and treatment plant will receive management input from a common committee. Construction funding for the Tribes will be exclusively federal, whereas DPRW's funding will be from federal, state and local sources. 

Will the project increase my taxes?  

Local bonding will be accomplished by utilizing the water system itself as the collateral to bond.  These revenue bonds will be retired through revenue generated by the system, and will not be associated with property taxes.  Financing the local share of construction costs with revenue bonds allows for voluntary participation in the project. 

How much of the cost of operation, maintenance and replacement will be required of water users on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation? DPRW?  

The authorizing legislation states that the federal government will pay for the operation and maintenance on the reservation. Every water service, both on and off the reservation, will be metered.  This is to comply with the federal government's water conservation plan associated with such projects.  The DPRW users will be responsible for operation, maintenance and debt service on their system and their portion of the common facility operation costs. 

Is my participation mandatory?  

DPRW desires that this system be a voluntary subscription built and maintained by the user. Much of the rate structure depends upon the number of users participating in the project, the more users, the lower the cost  for operation and maintenance per user.

What if I decide to participate at a later date?   

It is important to sign on now because the Federal and State cost share of construction will not be available after construction. Users signing on later will be responsible for the total cost to their point of connection, which could be up to ten times more than for participants receiving the cost shares. 
 
Who do I call for more information?  

Valley County
Marvin Tarum	724-3247	Allen Bunk	746-3483
Sheridan County
Jon Bolstad	963-2325	Gordon Kampen	286-6584
Daniels County
Charlie Cahill	783-5510	Jim Tande	783-5211
Roosevelt County
Wagner Harmon	769-2404	Rick Knick	787-5250

 
Contact the Staff during regular business hours at the addresses below.
Office Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Monday thru Friday

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