News Releases for December 2003
December 1, 2003
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Hoeven Calls Corps' Response To Parshall Water Emergency Inadequate
BISMARCK, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven today was notified that the Army Corps of Engineers’ Omaha District has received permission to design and award a contract to make the community of Parshall’s water intake pipe operational. The contract calls for the installation of two water pumps and a dredging operation. At the same time, the Corps has indicated that Parshall must come up with a long-term solution to its water supply problem.
“This decision comes at a time when we are working hard to restore drinking water to Fort Yates, which lost its supply because of low levels on Lake Oahe,” Hoeven said. “The Parshall situation highlights once again the need for strong drought conservation measures in the Corps’ new Master Manual, which is the one reasonable long-term plan for all of our communities that depend on the river.”
Hoeven declared a drought emergency for Parshall on November 7, and for Fort Yates on November 25, which together encompass both of North Dakota’s major reservoirs, Lakes Sakakawea and Oahe. Hoeven said the state continues to press the Corps to step up and fund a permanent fix, which could cost $3 to 4 million dollars in Parshall and entail extending the pipeline nine miles into deeper water. Estimates to correct the Fort Yates intake are not yet in.
Also, on Friday, the governor sent a letter to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Northwestern Division chief Brig. General William T. Grisoli demanding that the Corps recharge the upland reservoirs and include substantive drought conservation measures in its upcoming Annual Operating Plan and Master Manual.
“The situations in Parshall and Forth Yates add a whole new dimension to the Corps’ mismanagement of the river,” Hoeven said. “Communities dependent on the waterways are now deprived not only of their livelihoods, but they also confront the risk of losing their safe and secure supply of drinking water,” Hoeven said. “Anything short of recharging the reservoirs and substantive and meaningful drought conservation measures is inadequate.”
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