Bismarck, N.D. – Gov. Kelly Armstrong and Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring joined the State Water Commission in announcing an additional $2 million in funding for North Dakota’s Drought Disaster Livestock Water Supply Project Assistance Program as demand quickly exceeded the program’s initial funding.

The State Water Commission approved the additional funding after the Department of Water Resources received more than 220 applications during the first week of the program. The new funding doubles the available cost-share assistance from $2 million to $4 million.

The program was activated Aug. 18 after Armstrong declared a drought disaster because of extremely dry conditions across North Dakota. It provides cost-share assistance to livestock producers for projects designed to improve access to water, including new water wells, rural water system connections, pipeline extensions and pasture taps.

Without the additional funding approved by the commission, the initial $2 million would have been exhausted.

Armstrong also issued an amended executive order expanding eligibility for the program statewide. Under the original order, assistance was limited to counties experiencing drought conditions rated D2, or severe drought, and higher, along with adjacent counties and tribal nations.

The amended order allows livestock producers in all North Dakota counties to access the program.

“The intense demand for this water supply program demonstrates just how serious the drought situation is in North Dakota for our livestock producers,” Armstrong said. “This program will not only help more producers through the current drought but also make their operations more resilient against future droughts.”

The expanded assistance comes as drought conditions continue to affect a significant portion of the state.

The weekly U.S. Drought Monitor map released Thursday showed 38.6% of North Dakota experiencing moderate drought, while 26.4% was classified as being in severe drought and another 5.9% was experiencing extreme drought. Nearly 26% of the state was rated abnormally dry.

Only about 3.2% of North Dakota was not affected by either drought or abnormally dry conditions.

Goehring said the drought had created a significant need for additional livestock water infrastructure and that the new funding would help producers continue their operations.

“There is a great need for water supply projects due to shortages caused by the ongoing drought,” Goehring said. “The additional funding will provide livestock producers with the assistance necessary to continue their operations after they were impacted at no fault of their own.”

Under the program, eligible producers can receive cost-share assistance for up to three projects. Producers may be reimbursed for up to 65% of eligible project costs, with a maximum reimbursement of $10,000 for each project.

The program is funded through oil extraction tax revenue and was authorized by the State Water Commission before being administered by the Department of Water Resources.

DWR Director Reice Haase said the number of applications demonstrated the level of need among North Dakota livestock producers.

“North Dakota producers have made it clear that there is a significant need for assistance with livestock water supplies,” Haase said. “Expanding the program statewide and increasing the available funding will allow us to help more producers address the challenges they are facing today while also making investments that strengthen their resilience for future droughts.”

The State Water Commission approved the additional funding during a meeting chaired by Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden. The commission includes eight members appointed by the governor, along with the agriculture commissioner and the governor serving as chairperson.

Cost-share funding approved by the commission is primarily supported by North Dakota’s Resources Trust Fund, which receives 20.5% of the state’s oil extraction tax revenue.

Livestock producers seeking information about eligibility, applications and available projects can contact the Department of Water Resources at 701-328-4959 or by email at [email protected]. Program details and application information are also available through the department.