The report estimates the gains and losses experienced by North Dakotans resulting from inundation of over 500 thousand acres of land by two Missouri River reservoirs and the potential economic effect of diverting Missouri River waters for irrigation. Value estimates were made from a statewide perspective. It was estimated that North Dakota had annual agricultural losses of $93 million in gross business volume (GBV) and $34 million in personal income (PI) due to inundation from Garrison and Oahe reservoirs. In addition, annual losses due to bank erosion in 1977 were estimated at $319,000 in GBV and $119,000 in PI. Almost $2.5 million worth of cottonwood stumpage sales were lost, which would have produced over $15 million worth of lumber sales from sawmills. Some compensation was made to North Dakota in the form of payments to landowners, electric power generation, flood control, and recreation benefits. Differential income flows were estimated for irrigated and dry cropland. Using input-output analysis, it was estimated that the increase in agricultural production brought about by the authorized 250,000-acre irrigation project would increase annual GBV by $135 million and annual PI by $51 million. A 124,000-acre project would increase annual GBV by $71 million and annual PI by $27 million, and the recommended 96,000-acre plan would increase annual GBV by $49 million and annual PI by $19 million. It was estimated that a one-year delay in project completion from the year 1977 would result in $81 million in GBV and $30 million in PI foregone in North Dakota.
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