A proposed modification of the existing Snake Creek Embankment and the Snake Creek Pumping Plant (SCPP), located within McClean County, South Dakota is currently available for public review and comment.
The proposed intake project will impact the Snake Creek Embankment and Garrison Dam and Reservoir (Lake Sakakawea) along the Missouri River regulated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Garrison Dam. The purpose of the proposed action is to modify the existing SCPP intake with a permanent intake pipe.
The SCPP is owned by the Bureau of Reclamation (BoR) and operated by the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District (GDCD). The existing SCPP consists of a concrete structure within the Snake Creek Embankment that has three pump units that withdraw water from Lake Sakakawea into Lake Audubon, which provide wildlife, recreation and water supply through the McClusky Canal for various rural and urban water supply purposes in eastern North Dakota. The Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS) project previously submitted a Section 408 request (No. 408-NWO-2021-0140) and received a USACE Section 408 permission letter dated April 14, 2023. The previous project included the discharge pipe from the SCPP along the northeast side of the Snake Creek Embankment, modifications in the SCPP, and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) installation of the permanent intake pipe to connect to the existing SCPP. On July 15, 2024, the North Dakota State Water Commission (NDSWC) and BoR submitted a new request proposing a design change of the intake pipe and installation methods requiring a new Section 408 review of the proposed project intake. This new 408 request submittal was determined to be complete for USACE review on November 7, 2024.
The proposed project amends the design of the intake pipe and intake channel. The SCPP intake channel allows water to funnel water from Lake Sakakawea into the SCPP. The proposed intake project is comprised of the following elements: Removal of existing earthen cofferdam by hydraulic dredging in the intake channel, including approximately 37,000 cubic yards of soil from Lake Sakakawea. Dredging would be performed by barges with dredging equipment. The proposed dredging dimension for the intake channel is 85 feet wide with an average 3H:1V slope. Dredged material would be permanently placed upland outside of the lake boundary. A temporary settling pond would be constructed to allow dewatering of the dredged material so that it can be placed in the disposal area. The construction access haul road and settling pond are temporary features that would be required to be removed in their entirety after completion of the project. Placement of a permanent 48-inch diameter water intake pipe on the lakebed would be connected to the existing SCPP intake. The pipe placement would include installation of 353 cubic yards of gravel/sand filter material into Lake Sakakawea along the intake channel.
The purpose of the proposed action is to provide Missouri River water to the NAWS Biota Water Treatment Plant (BWTP) in Minot, North Dakota for eventual distribution within the Minot service area, the northern tier of North Dakota communities and regional water systems that participate in the NAWS project.
The public is encouraged to provide comments on the proposed alteration. The reference number for the project is 408-NWO-2024-0069. It is available for viewing at:
Comments can be emailed to: section408nwo@usace.army.mil or they may be mailed to:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District CENWO-PMA-C:
ATTN: 408-NWO-2023-0016 Public Comment
1616 Capitol Avenue
Omaha, NE 68102-4901
Comments must be postmarked or received no later than March 12, 2025.