| Summary: | Garrison Diversion Unit Commission Even as construction advanced on Garrison Diversion throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it became increasingly apparent that major issues, such as environment, the acquisition of lands, economics of irrigation, and Canadian concerns about water flowing from the Missouri River Basin into the Hudson Bay Basin would require reformulation of the project if it were to be completed. In 1984, construction was halted, and a high level commission was appointed by the Secretary of Interior to study and recommend a change in direction. The GDU Commission, in its Final Report issued December 20, 1984, recommended development of a GDU significantly different from the project described in the 1957 feasibility report and the project authorized in 1965. The major recommendations were: ? Irrigation of 130,940 acres of land, none of which drains to the Hudson Bay. Of these, 17,580 acres would be located on the Indian reservations of Fort Berthold and Standing Rock. ? A grant program of S200 million to facilitate municipal, rural and industrial (MR&I) water service for as many as 130 towns and cities, rural areas, and three Indian reservations. ? A water treatment facility to treat Missouri River water that would be transferred into the Hudson Bay drainage via the Sheyenne River and then the Red River. This would provide MR&I water for Fargo, Grand Forks, other cities and rural systems. The cost of the building and operating the treatment plant was declared non-reimbursable. ? Mitigation of wildlife impacts on a new basin with specific wildlife features authorized beyond the mitigation requirements. ? Recreation development on a 50-50 cost-share basis. The cost of the Commission Plan was estimated at a total of $1.12 billion in capital costs, including expenditures to date, and $15.8 million in annual operation, maintenance and replacement costs. Of major concern to the state of North Dakota and the District was the proposed elimination of Lonetree Dam and Reservoir and replacement with the Sykeston Canal. Lonetree was the project's principal regulating reservoir; without it, future expansion was limited. Lonetree Dam and Reservoir remained authorized features of the Commission Plan; and construction funds may be requested only after a finding of need by the Secretary of Interior and satisfactory consultation with the Government of Canada. 528 Chapter 10 Physical Characteristics
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