Development and utilization of land and water resources declared a public purpose - Declaration of intention - Interpretation
N.D. Cent. Code § 61-24-01
in effect61-24-01. Development and utilization of land and water resources declared a public
purpose - Declaration of intention - Interpretation.
It is hereby declared that more effective development and utilization of the land and water
resources of this state, protection and preservation of the benefits therefrom, opportunity for
greater economic security, protection of health, property and enterprise, and the promotion of
the prosperity and general welfare of all of the people of North Dakota involve, necessitate, and
require the exercise of the sovereign powers of the state and concern a public purpose, the
accomplishment of which, among other things, demands, and it is hereby declared necessary,
that the Garrison diversion unit of the Missouri River basin project as authorized by Act of
Congress approved December 22, 1944 [58 Stat. 887], and acts amendatory thereof and
supplementary thereto, be established and constructed:
1. To provide for the future economic welfare and prosperity of the people of this state,
and particularly of the people residing in the area embraced within the boundaries of
the conservancy district created by this chapter.
2. To provide for the irrigation of lands within the sections of such district periodically
afflicted with drought, and to stabilize the production of crops thereon.
3. To replenish and restore the depleted waters of lakes, the Red, Sheyenne, James, and
other rivers, and streams in the district, and to stabilize the flow of these streams.
4. To replenish the waters, and to restore the level of Devils Lake, Stump Lake, Lake
Williams, and Turtle Lake.
5. To make available within the district, or outside the district to the extent authorized by a
joint powers agreement under chapter 54-40.3, waters diverted from the Missouri
River for irrigation, domestic, municipal, and industrial needs, and for hydroelectric
power, recreation, fish, wildlife, and other beneficial and public uses.
6. To study and provide for the water needs of eastern North Dakota communities and
water districts and western Minnesota communities through a Red River valley water
supply project.
The provisions hereof shall not be construed to, in any manner, abrogate or limit the rights,
powers, duties, and functions of the state water commission, but shall be held to be
supplementary thereto and an aid thereof. Nor shall this chapter be construed as limiting or in
any way affecting the laws of this state relating to the organization and maintenance of irrigation
districts, flood irrigation districts, water resource districts, drainage districts, or watershed
protection districts, nor as precluding the establishment of any such district wholly or in part
within the boundaries of the district created by this chapter.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t61c24.pdf#nameddest=61-24-01Fetched: 10/16/2026