H.R. 9834 – Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act

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Updated January 20, 2026 at 7:18 PM UTC

The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study for a project that would deliver water from the Missouri River to the Western Dakota Regional Water System, providing municipal, rural, and industrial water supplies in western South Dakota. It sets up a cooperative agreement with the West Dakota Water Development District, limits the federal cost share to 50 percent, authorizes up to $10 million in funding, and includes a ten‑year expiration for the authority.

Key Provisions

Requires the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with the West Dakota Water Development District, to study the feasibility of a Missouri River water supply project for the Western Dakota Regional Water System.
Mandates that the study follow the reclamation feasibility standards outlined in the Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2006.
Allows the Secretary to enter a cooperative agreement with the Western Dakota Regional Water System to complete additional work if the study does not meet the required standards.
Limits the federal share of study costs to no more than 50 percent and authorizes up to $10 million for the study.
Sets the authority to conduct the study to expire ten years after the act’s enactment.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

September 25, 2024

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

September 25, 2024

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

September 25, 2024

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued September 25, 2024

I

118th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9834

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 25, 2024

Mr. Johnson of South Dakota introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

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 from the Missouri River to the Western Dakota Regional Water System, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Western South Dakota Water Supply Project Feasibility Study Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Reclamation feasibility standards

The term reclamation feasibility standards means the eligibility criteria and feasibility study requirements described in section 106 of the Reclamation Rural Water Supply Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 2405).

(2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(3)

Western Dakota Regional Water System

The term Western Dakota Regional Water System means the Western Dakota Regional Water System, Inc., a nonprofit corporation established and operated substantially in accordance with the reclamation feasibility standards to serve as a non-Federal project entity for purposes of the cooperative agreement entered into under section 3(b).

3.

Western South Dakota water supply project feasibility study

(a)

Study

(1)

In general

The Secretary, in consultation with the West Dakota Water Development District, through a cooperative agreement, may undertake a study to determine the feasibility of constructing a project to supply municipal, rural, and industrial water from the Missouri River to the Western Dakota Regional Water System.

(2)

Requirement

The study under paragraph (1) shall comply with the reclamation feasibility standards.

(b)

Cooperative agreement

If the Secretary determines that the study under subsection (a) does not comply with the reclamation feasibility standards, the Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement with the Western Dakota Regional Water System to complete additional work to ensure that the study under that subsection complies with the reclamation feasibility standards.

(c)

Federal share

The Federal share of the total costs of carrying out the feasibility study under this section shall not exceed 50 percent.

(d)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000.

(e)

Termination of authority

The authority provided by this section expires on the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act.