The Dakota Water Resources Act Amendments of 2026 authorizes approximately $1.6 billion in federal funding to expand water infrastructure and rural water systems across North Dakota and tribal lands in the Dakota region. The bill directs funds toward four major water projects in North Dakota ($637 million total), including the Northwest Area Water Supply project, Eastern North Dakota Alternate Water Supply project, Southwest Pipeline expansion, and rural water district improvements, while also allocating $743 million specifically for tribal water systems within four Indian reservations—Spirit Lake, Fort Berthold, Standing Rock, and Turtle Mountain—plus a feasibility study for the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation. All appropriated amounts are indexed to account for construction cost increases over time, and the bill allows limited flexibility to transfer funds between projects while requiring final engineering reports be completed within two years of enactment. This legislation affects rural communities, municipalities, and Native American tribes that rely on the Bureau of Reclamation to provide safe drinking water and agricultural water supplies.
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