Programs & Organizations

The following list provides a summary of the major groups involved in Red River issues affecting North Dakota.

Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Resource Board

Represents: County participants include Eddy, Pierce, Rolette, Walsh, Cavalier, Nelson, Ramsey, and Towner.

Purpose: The water resource interests of the Devils Lake basin in North Dakota.


Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Authority

Represents: The communities of Fargo, ND and Moorhead, MN, along with Cass County, ND, Clay County MN, the Cass County Joint Water Resources District and the Buffalo-Red River Watershed District.

Purpose: The purpose of the F-M Diversion Authority is to build and operate a flood diversion channel along the Red River of the North to reduce flood risk of the stakeholder communities.


Hurricane Lake Joint Board

Represents: County participants are Pierce, Towner, Rolette, and Benson

Purpose: To jointly exercise their powers to provide a cooperative and coordinated effort in addressing the management, conservation, protection, development, and control of water resources in the Hurricane Lake basin.


International Joint Commission

Represents: The United States of America and Canada

Purpose: The IJC prevents and resolves disputes between the United States and Canada under the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty and pursues the common good of both countries as and independent and objective advisor to the two governments.


International Red River Board

Represents: The IRRB represents constituents in Manitoba, North Dakota, and Minnesota.

Purpose: To ensure a more ecosystemic approach to trans boundary water issues and to achieve operational efficiencies in the conduct of IJC responsibilities.


International Water Institute

Represents: Residents within the Red River Basin in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Manitoba.

Purpose: The IWI works with partners to develop and deliver quality watershed education programming that engages local communities, provides hands-on experiential learning for youth and contributes to our understanding of watershed health. The IWI also collaborates with watershed managers, experts, and federal and local government agencies to help address critical water management issues related to flood damage reduction and natural resource enhancement.


Lake Agassiz Water Authority

Represents: 33 Communities throughout eastern North Dakota, as well as, ten rural water systems.

Purpose: LAWA’s purpose is to provide a reliable supply of drinking water to eastern North Dakota with a focus on the economic welfare of the people and the reliability of a high-quality water supply.


Maple River-Ransom Joint Board

Represents: County participants are Cass/Maple River and Ransom County.

Purpose: To jointly exercise their powers to provide a cooperative and coordinated effort in addressing the management, conservation, protection, development, and control of water resources in the Maple River watershed.


Maple River – Richland Joint Board

Represents: County participants are Cass/Maple River and Richland County.

Purpose: To jointly exercise their powers to provide a cooperative and coordinated effort in addressing the management, conservation, protection, development, and control of water resources in the Maple River watershed.


MnDak Upstream Coalition

Represents: A coalition of concerned citizens both directly and indirectly affected by the proposed Fargo Dam

Purpose: The purpose of MnDak Upstream Coalition is to keep concerned citizens informed of the potential Fargo Dam, allow a forum to citizens to voice their concerns about the project and lobby county commissioners, state legislatures and the North Dakota Governor.


Pembina River Basin Advisory Board

Represents: International interests between the United States and Canada within the Pembina River Basin.

Purpose: PRBAB’s purpose is to develop and cause to be implemented a comprehensive water management plan for the Pembina River Basin and to facilitate and pursue the resolution of inter-jurisdictional issues.


Red River Basin Commission

Represents: Constituents within the Red River Basin in Manitoba, Minnesota, and North Dakota. These include water resource districts, municipalities, government entities, and private interests.

Purpose: To develop a Red River Basin integrated natural resources framework plan; to achieve commitment to implement the framework plan; and to work toward a unified voice for the Red River Basin.


Red River Joint Water Resource District

Represents: County participants include Barnes, Grand Forks, Maple River, Nelson, North Cass, Pembina, Ransom, Richland, Rush River, Sargent, Steele, Traill, and Walsh.

Purpose: Provide for a coordinated and cooperative approach to water management and provides critical funding to member districts for the purpose of developing and financing water retention projects.


Red River Retention Authority

Represents: The Red River Retention Authority is comprised of members of the Red River Joint Water Resource District, a North Dakota political subdivision, and the Red River Watershed Management Board, a Minnesota political subdivision.

Purpose: Its purpose is to ensure joint, comprehensive, and strategic coordination of retention projects in the Red River of the North watershed and facilitating implementation and construction of retention in the Red River Valley.


Sheyenne River Joint Water Resource District

Represents: County participants are Barnes, Ransom, Steele, Griggs, Nelson, Southeast Cass and Richland.

Purpose: To jointly exercise their powers to provide a cooperative and coordinated effort in addressing the management, conservation, protection, development, and control of water resources in the Sheyenne River watershed.


Upper Sheyenne River Joint Water Resource Board (USRJWRB)

Represents: County participants include Barnes, Benson, Eddy, Griggs, Nelson, Pierce, Sheridan, Steele, and Stutsman.

Purpose: To jointly exercise their powers to provide a cooperative and coordinated effort in addressing the management, conservation, protection, development, and control of water resources in the Upper Sheyenne River watershed.