BISMARCK – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) announced the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) invested $26 million to fund a pilot project to accelerate and improve soil moisture and snowpack monitoring in the Upper Missouri River Basin. These funds, distributed from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), will improve hydrological monitoring in the upper basin states of North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Nebraska.
While this project pilot will focus specifically on the Upper Missouri River Basin, the study is expected to broaden the understanding of how soil moisture and snowpack data can improve hydrological and climatological applications.
“Snowpack monitoring helps protect our communities from spring onslaughts of melting snow,” said Senator Cramer. “This proactive investment preserves essential infrastructure and improves the safety of North Dakotans.”
Background:
Congress funded three complementary projects in the Upper Missouri River Basin for improved monitoring, data acquisition, and data application. These projects were previously authorized and directed by the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020. As a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, Senator Cramer helped craft and negotiate the WRDA 2020 and the IIJA.