Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act (S 3723)

Summary

This bill would require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study to determine the viability of constructing a project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water from the Missouri River to the Western Dakota Regional Water System. Key aspects of the bill include:

Purpose and Intent

• The main purpose is to assess the feasibility of a proposed rural water supply project to provide water from the Missouri River to the Western Dakota Regional Water System.
• This would help address water supply needs in western South Dakota.

Key Provisions

• Directs the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a feasibility study of the proposed rural water supply project.
• Requires the Secretary to develop a feasibility report with recommendations on whether the project should be authorized for construction and the appropriate non-Federal cost share (at least 25%).
• Mandates consultation and cooperation with relevant federal, state, tribal, regional, and local authorities during the study.
• Establishes a 50% federal cost share for the feasibility study, up to $10 million in authorized appropriations.
• Expires the authority for this study 10 years after the bill's enactment.

Affected Parties

• The Western Dakota Regional Water System, a non-profit entity, would be the primary non-Federal project partner.
• Communities and water users in western South Dakota would potentially benefit from the proposed water supply project if found feasible.

Timeline and Procedure

• The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 29, 2026 and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
• The feasibility study and report must be completed within 10 years of the bill's enactment.

Overall, this bill aims to assess the viability of a major water infrastructure project to enhance municipal, rural, and industrial water supplies in western South Dakota. The results of the feasibility study could inform future legislative and funding decisions related to the proposed project.