§ 61-16.1-10 — Responsibilities and duties of water resource board

North Dakota § 61-16.1-10

• Jurisdiction: North Dakota
• Title 61: Waters
• Ch. 61-16.1: Operation of Water Resource Districts

Text

Each water resource board shall:
1. Meet jointly with other water resource boards within a common river basin at least
twice each year at times and places as mutually agreed upon for the purpose of
reviewing and coordinating efforts for the maximum benefit of the entire river basin.
2. Cooperate with other water resource boards of a common river basin and provide
mutual assistance to the maximum extent possible.
3. Exercise jointly with other water resource districts within a river basin to effectively
resolve the significant and common water resource management problem or problems
of the river basin or region and to jointly develop a comprehensive plan for the river
basin or region.
4. Encourage all landowners to retain water on the land to the maximum extent possible
in accordance with sound water management policies, and carry out to the maximum
extent possible the water management policy that upstream landowners and districts
that have artificially altered the hydrologic scheme must share with downstream
landowners the responsibility of providing for proper management and control of
surface waters.
5. Address and consider fully in the planning of any surface water project the
downstream impacts caused by the project. A determination of whether to proceed
with the construction of a project shall be based on the following principles:

a. Reasonable necessity of the project.
b. Reasonable care to be taken to avoid unnecessary injury by fully considering all
alternatives.
c. Consideration of whether the utility or benefit accruing from the project
reasonably outweighs the adverse impacts resulting from the project.
6. Require that appropriate easements be obtained in accordance with applicable state
and federal law when projects will cause an adverse impact to lands of other
landowners.