RED RIVER VALLEY | TRENCHLESS
TRENCHLESS SOLUTIONS SERVE RED RIVER VALLEY NEEDS
Key infrastructure to meet vital water supply needs in Red River Valley, North Dakota, were met with the help of trenchless tunneling. The project is described by Victoria Encapera, Aswathy (Ash) Sivaram, Kurt Ronnekamp and Kayla Christopher of Black & Veatch
INTRODUCTION Reliable access to water is the cornerstone of a growing and successful community. This much needed resource is afforded by the execution of major conveyance projects which are growing in number across North America. When the subject of drought is broached, many
people first think of the American West where there is long history of contention over available water. The reality is that many American communities, regardless of geographic location, are threatened by the adverse effects of drought, and must think proactively about solutions that add resiliency and dependability to their water infrastructure. One of the best examples of a community rising to
meet this challenge is the Red River Valley Water Supply Project (RRVWSP).
RRVWSP PROGRAM PURPOSE Central North Dakota and the Red River Valley are drought-prone regions with limited and unreliable surface water supplies that are inadequate during drought conditions. In the 1930s, Fargo, North Dakota experienced zero
flow in the Red River during a severe drought; models have shown that a similar magnitude drought would have an estimated financial impact of $33billion (2023$) over a ten-year period. Supporting studies of the catchment show that a
severe drought, like that of the 1930s, will likely reoccur in the region by 2050. In addition to limited surface water supplies, limited
groundwater supplies are nearly fully appropriated and North Dakota State law discourages the conversion of groundwater irrigation to drinking water.
N Mclean County Sheridan County Sykeston Washburn
Future RRVWSP pipeline
Missouri river intake screen Structure and tunnel
Burleigh County Bismarck
Kidder County Stutsman County Barnes County
Future RRVWSP pipeline
Foster County Carrington
Wells County Griggs County Glenfield Cooperstown
Above, figure 1: Project Map showing RRVWSP pipeline alignment and intake location IMAGES COURTESY OF BLACK & VEATCH Fall 2023 | 29
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