Associated Press Writer

By DAVE KOLPACKBy DAVE KOLPACK

FARGO - Even with pictures of people fording the Red River on foot during the 1930s, officials are finding it difficult to stir interest in a water project that could save eastern North Dakota from a severe drought.

Plans to bring water from the Missouri River to the Red River Valley will be unveiled during seven public hearings, the first of which is scheduled Thursday in Bismarck. Fargo Mayor Bruce Furness says he doesn't expect many spectators.

"The general public is somewhat apathetic on the whole thing," said Furness, who is president of a group that represents water users in 13 eastern North Dakota counties.

Furness' group, the Lake Agassiz Water Authority, has documented stories about when the Red River stopped flowing in Fargo for five straight months in 1934.

The federal Bureau of Reclamation has developed eight alternatives for the Red River Valley Water Supply Project, ranging in cost from $500 million to $2.5 billion. The most popular choice among eastern North Dakota officials is a $660 million pipeline from the Missouri River into the Red River north of Fargo.

"From my perspective, the public hearings are probably the most important part of the process," said Patience Hurley, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Reclamation. "But it's a difficult thing to get comments from people when, right now, everybody has enough water."

Until now, most comments have come from public officials.

Manitoba wants to know the quality of water that could wind up in Canada. Grand Forks is feeling the pinch of paying for the project. Some tribal officials feel they're being left out of the planning.

Nobody disputes the notion that a drought could cripple the Red River Valley, home to North Dakota's largest city and a majority of the state's population.

"It's not a matter of if, it's when," said Al Grasser, the Grand Forks city engineer.

Dwight Williamson, director of water management for the Manitoba Water Stewardship agency, said the problem would be better solved by better water conservation and using existing groundwater supplies, rather than transferring water from the Missouri River basin.

"We would support those options that seek to provide drought-proofing to the region through in-basin means," Williamson said.

The Lake Agassiz Water Authority favors a proposal that would pipe Missouri River water from the Garrison Dam through the Sheyenne River to the Red River. Canadians are worried the plan could introduce foreign species of fish, aquatic plants and other organisms that could end up in Lake Winnipeg.

If that becomes the favored plan, Williamson said, it would need an agreement on water treatment options. He believes that should be done through cooperative groups such as the International Joint Commission, the International Red River Board and the Red River Basin Commission.

Three Affiliated Tribes Chairman Tex Hall said he worries the tribe won't be included in discussions on the water project. The tribe's Fort Berthold reservation surrounds Lake Sakakawea, which is the biggest lake on the Missouri River's reservoir system.

Hall is not sure if he can attend the Bismarck meeting Thursday, and other hearings are in eastern North Dakota or Minnesota. He would like to have other meetings scheduled in the western part of the state.

"I'm not totally opposed to it (the project). Fargo needs water, and I understand that," Hall said.

"But from what I'm seeing right now, it doesn't look like we'll be heard. They should be consulting with the tribe."

Hurley said the Bureau of Reclamation has sent letters and news releases to all communities affected by the water project.

"We have gone to great lengths to include everyone along the project pathway," she said.

Even so, Grand Forks officials say it's difficult for citizens to think about drought prevention when they're still saddled with bills from the 1997 Red River flood that swamped much of the city.

"One of the challenges we've got is to get this across to the general public, at a time when we've got too much water," Grasser said. "And when we're looking at solutions, we also have to look at affordability."