The "Dry-Redwater Regional Water Authority is a legal entity formed in May of 2005.
The owners of the system are the Counties of McCone and Garfield, the towns of Circle, Richey and Jordan and the four Conservation Districts of McCone, Garfield, Richland and Dawson Counties.
The Feasibility Study was completed in June of 2006 and the addendum was completed in May 2007 that indicated that this system is financially, environmentally and operationally feasible. Interstate Engineering has finished the addendum to the study with final location for intake structure, pump house and water treatment facility, and addressed the large number of additional users that had signed up after completion of the original feasibility study.
Senator Baucus introduced Senate Bill 637 in May of 2009.
In July of 2009 member of the DRWA Board traveled to Washington D.C. to present testimony to the Water and Power Senate Subcommittee of the Natural Resource and Energy Committee.
In 2010 the Rural Water Act rules were completed.
In June of 2010 the DRWA received a letter stating that they were eligible for an appraisal investigation
In September of 2010 the investigation was completed and determined that the Dry Redwater was one of the systems approved for the feasibility study. This study is an in depth study of the Redwater system
In February 2011 the bill was reintroduced as Senate Bill 419.
In May of 2011 there was another hearing held with the Water and Power Senate Subcommittee of the Natural Resource and Energy Committee. This hearing determined that the DRWA must follow the requirements of the Rural Water Act of 2006.
To date, the DRWA is working with the Bureau of Reclamation on completing the feasibility study.
History
