Northwest Area Water Supply
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The Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS), is a project to divert water from Lake Sakakawea to the area around Minot, North Dakota, which is in the Souris River watershed. Minot is roughly 40 miles north of Lake Sakakawea.
The North Dakota government has stated that the project has received final approval, however the International Joint Commission has not approved any measure related to NAWS.
The Canadian Government has taken issue with the program, as it moves water from the Missouri River basin, which flows south into the United States, to the Souris River basin, which flows north into Canada, possibly introducing foreign microbes into the water supply. Under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909, any such interbasin transfers must be approved by the International Joint Commission.