North Dakota Department of Water Resources

09/10/2026

✨Throwback Thursday✨

Braddock Dam, circa 1957. A little glimpse into North Dakota’s water infrastructure history, nearly 70 years later. 📸

09/08/2026

DWR was at today’s Agriculture and Water Management Committee meeting!

We appreciate the opportunity to share our work, answer questions, and continue the conversation about North Dakota’s water future. 🌾💧

09/07/2026

🇺🇸 Happy Labor Day!

The DWR office will be closed today, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day.

We hope everyone has a safe weekend! ☀️

09/04/2026

🌟 Meet the Team 🌟

👋 Hi, I’m Alexis, DWR’s Technical Review and Response Section Manager. I lead our technical review and response functions, with a focus on hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and providing technical assistance during emergency water-related response efforts.

I got into civil engineering because I ❤️ water, math, and problem-solving. I eventually found my passion in open-water hydraulics. There are few things more satisfying than getting a model to reproduce what actually happened during a real-world event!

One of my favorite parts of working at DWR is the variety. No two days are the same. I enjoy being a resource for my colleagues and helping find solutions to technical challenges. I’m especially proud of the work I’ve done with spring flood response and helping improve our response procedures so our teams are prepared when we need to shift into 24/7 response mode.

🚣🏻‍♀️ Outside of work, I love traveling and exploring new places with my husband and our two energetic kiddos, especially if we can be outside and near the water.

👩🏻‍🌾 One hobby I’d love to master someday? Gardening. Somehow, growing my own food feels more intimidating than raising two young kids.

Our go-to restaurant used to be the Little Cottage. We went there every Sunday! But these days, it’s hard to beat the river views of The Paddle Trap.

Fun fact: I can turn just about anything into a spreadsheet. Trips, projects, research, comparisons... you name it, and I can probably find a reason to make a spreadsheet for it!

09/01/2026

💧 Drought Program Update 💧

The Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Assistance Program is now closed to new applications, with all $4 million in available funding committed.

Since the program was reactivated on Aug. 18, more than 400 livestock water supply projects have been approved to help producers address drought-related water needs and strengthen their operations for the future.

DWR appreciates all of the producers who participated in the program and everyone who helped make this response possible. We’ll continue working with approved applicants as their projects move forward.

09/01/2026

Can you guess this North Dakota body of water? 👀

We gave you an easy one last month, so this month we are turning up the difficulty level!

Drop your best guess in the comments. ⬇️

08/28/2026

💧 Drought Program Update 💧

The response from North Dakota producers has been strong. Since the Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Project Assistance Program was reactivated, more than $1.5 million has been approved for over 350 livestock water supply projects!

That level of participation demonstrates just how important this program is to producers dealing with the ongoing drought.

Earlier this week, the program was expanded statewide and increased available funding from $2 million to $4 million, helping ensure more North Dakota producers have access to assistance as they work to address livestock water needs and build greater resilience for future droughts.

Learn more about the program and eligibility requirements at dwr.nd.gov.

08/27/2026

The State Water Commission recently approved an additional $2 million for the Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Project Assistance Program, bringing total funding to $4 million. Gov. Armstrong also expanded the program to make it available to producers in all 53 North Dakota counties.

The strong demand for the program demonstrates just how serious current drought conditions are for North Dakota’s livestock producers.

Listen to the latest episode to learn more about the program, how it works, and what producers need to know. 💧🐄

The State Water Commission recently approved an additional $2 million for the Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Project Assistance Program, bringing total funding to $4 million. Gov. Armstrong also expanded the program to make it available to producers in all 53 North Dakota counties. The str...

08/26/2026

Congratulations to the Three Affiliated Tribes on the grand opening of the Fort Berthold Rural Water Bruce A. Fox Water Treatment Plant in Mandaree! 💧

The completion of this new facility is a major milestone and an important investment in providing safe, sustainable, and reliable drinking water in the Mandaree area!

08/25/2026

💧 Ask DWR 💧 What is an Excess Water Use Authorization?

Under certain conditions, DWR may issue an Excess Water Use Authorization to allow water from a subsurface water management system to be put to beneficial use.

As North Dakota producers navigate challenging drought conditions, responsibly managing our water is more important than ever! Excess Water Use Authorizations provide a pathway to facilitate the beneficial use of excess water.

📚 Learn more about Excess Water Use Authorizations at dwr.nd.gov.