The Missouri River will be getting a lot of attention when water managers from across the state gather in Bismarck for the 44th annual joint North Dakota/Upper Missouri Water Convention and Irrigation Expo.

Ken Royse, president of the North Dakota Water Users Association, expects 400 to 500 participants in this year's convention, which is being held at the Ramkota Hotel. While there are a few related activities taking place on Tuesday, most of the convention occurs on Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

"The convention seems to have a Missouri River flavor this year," Royse said. "We've got a lot of presentations related to the Missouri, including a report on the proposed Red River Valley diversion project."

The Upper Missouri Association, representing Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota, rotates its annual convention each year between the states. It's North Dakota's turn to host the event, making it a part of the water users convention.

North Dakota State Engineer Dale Frink will give his annual State of the Water address at 9 a.m. Thursday. This year, he will be joined by Montana's Mary Sexton, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation; South Dakota's Dave Templeton, Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and Wyoming Deputy State Engineer Harry LaBonde. All will give State of the Water reports from their states' perspective.

The Bureau of Reclamation is an important player in western United States water projects, providing funding for water projects to 17 states, Royse said. The Bureau's Great Plains Region director, Mike Ryan, will be giving two presentations: the first, at 3 p.m. Wednesday, on the Bureau's projects and funding, and the second, at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, is on water supply and climactic changes.

Joint boards representing interests along the Missouri, Devils Lake basin, Red River and Upper Sheyenne will hold separate meetings at noon Thursday. The North Irrigation Association holds its annual meeting at the same time.

Much of Wednesday afternoon's general session is devoted to the Missouri River. Discussion issues include Missouri River recovery implementation, drought impacts and 2008 operations, intake issues, local programs, sovereign land management plan, land management plan and sedimentation.

On Thursday, a water supply panel will convene at 2:30 p.m. to provide updates on the Northwest Area Water Supply, Southwest Water Supply and the Red River Valley water supply project.

Royse said he expects to have between 40 and 50 vendors setting up booths for the convention that will be open to the general public. Sen. Kent Conrad will provide opening comments for the convention via teleconferencing, and Gov. John Hoeven will provide the keynote at Wednesday's luncheon.

The water users holds its board of directors election on Thursday afternoon and will adopt resolutions along with the water resource districts. An awards banquet is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

The Irrigation Expo runs concurrent to the convention, with all of the expo's sessions held throughout the day on Thursday. Royse said that many of the water user participants also belong to the Irrigation Association and that's why the two events are held together.

On Friday, the water association will hold its meeting at 7 a.m., with the irrigation association meeting at 8:30 a.m. At 9 a.m., the North Dakota Water Commission convenes in the Ramkota's Lamborn Room.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)