Sponsor
Dustin Johnson
Representative · R-SD
Representative · R-SD
The bill funds and initiates a multi-state feasibility study to explore new rural and municipal water supplies—providing federal seed money and requiring local buy-in—but the limited funding, required local cost-share, and a 10-year expiration risk delaying or preventing a full, Reclamation-standard study.
Rural communities across parts of South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota would get a federally funded feasibility study to evaluate new municipal, rural, and industrial water supplies, enabling planning for future water infrastructure projects.
Local and state governments could receive up to $10 million in federal seed funding to start the feasibility study, reducing upfront costs for study initiation.
The federal contribution is limited to 50% of study costs, which encourages local investment and cooperative regional planning between federal, state, and local partners.
Local governments and small towns must provide at least half of study costs, which could strain budgets and divert funds from other local needs.
The $10 million authorization may be insufficient to complete a Reclamation-standard, multi-state feasibility study, risking incomplete work, delays, or the need for additional appropriations.
The authority to fund the study expires after 10 years, which could constrain long-term planning and jeopardize federal participation if study work or funding is delayed.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes a federal cost‑shared feasibility study for a Dakota Mainstem regional water supply and authorizes $10 million for the study.
Official title: To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the feasibility of constructing a project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water to the Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System service area in the States of South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 3, 2026 by Dustin Johnson · Last progress February 3, 2026
Authorizes the Interior Secretary, working with the nonprofit Dakota Mainstem Regional Water System, to carry out a feasibility study for a municipal, rural, and industrial water supply project serving parts of South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota. The study must meet Reclamation feasibility standards, be cost-shared with non‑Federal partners (federal share capped at 50%), and the law authorizes $10,000,000 to be appropriated for the effort; the authority to begin the study expires 10 years after enactment.