assiniboine & sioux rural water supply system

The Fort Peck Reservation is home to two separate Indian nations, each composed of numerous bands and divisions.

The Sioux divisions of Sisseton, Wahpetons, the Yanktonais, and the Teton Hunkpapa are all represented.

The Assiniboine bands of Canoe Paddler and Red Bottom are represented.

The Reservation is located in the extreme northeast corner of Montana, on the north side of the Missouri River.

Assiniboine & Sioux Rural Water Supply System
703 2nd Ave. West
P.O. Box 1027
Poplar, MT 59255
P:406.768.5719
F:406.653.5721

Questions

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.

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.

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.

"ASRWSS 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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