Access to the Dry Prairie Rural Water System

Fort Union Trading Post NHS proposes to improve the quality and reliability of the potable and fire protection water systems in the park. Fort Union Trading Post currently has a well that provides potable water to the reconstructed fort/ visitor center, the park maintenance complex and 2 park residences, via a buried pipeline. There is a 5,000 gallon water storage tank buried north of the fort which currently stores water for drinking and the fire suppression system. Four storage tanks near the shop/housing area contain a total of 1,000 additional gallons of water used by park staff.

Fort Union Trading Post NHS has considered two alternatives to their existing water supply to meet the park's need for sustainable potable water for visitors, employees, residents, and fire protection. The no-action alternative is to continue using only the existing well, which will require digging a new well at some point in the near future. The preferred alternative is to access the new Dry Prairie Rural Water System as the primary public water supply for the park, and to continue temporarily to maintain the existing potable water well as a backup source. The reservoirs would continue to be used for storage, but the reservoir at the fort would be reconfigured to provide water solely for the fire suppression system in the Bourgeois House. This alternative requires digging a 3500' trench to access the rural water system via a buried pipeline

Fort Union Trading Post NHS welcomes your comments on this proposal and on the analysis contained within the document. Comments will be taken for 30 days after the release of this document, and can be sent by mail to Andy Banta, Superintendent, Fort Union Trading Post NHS, 15550 Hwy 1804, Williston, North Dakota 58801 or by fax at 701-572-7321. Comments may also be submitted through the Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC) website by navigating to http://parkplanning.nps.gov/, and selecting Fort Union Trading Post NHS.

Document Content:

Environmental Assessment Access to Dry Prairie Rural Water System   (2.8 MB, Word file) Disclaimer: Links within the above document(s) were valid as of the date published. Note: Some of the files may be in PDF format and can be viewed using the Adobe Acrobat Reader software. You may download a free copy of from Adobe Systems.