Commission Members

The primary function of the Water Commission is to review and consider cost-share requests from project sponsors seeking financial assistance from the Department of Water Resources. The Commission may also provide for the issuance of bonds as allowed by statute.

The Water Commission consists of the Governor as chairman, the Commissioner of Agriculture as an ex-officio member, and eight members who are appointed by the Governor to serve terms of six years each. The terms of office for appointees are arranged such that two terms and not more than three terms shall expire on the first day of July of each odd numbered year.

Water Commissioners are appointed in each of the eight major drainage basins. A map of the corresponding basins can be found here. Commission members are listed below, along with term expirations and contact information.

Governor Doug Burgum, Chairman

Doug Burgum
Doug Burgum, Chairman
Governor of North Dakota
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58505
(701) 328-2200
Term expires: 12/15/2024

Doug Goehring

Doug Goehring
Doug Goehring, Commissioner
Commissioner, Department of Agriculture
600 East Boulevard Avenue
Bismarck, ND 58505
(701) 328-4754
Term expires: 12/31/2026

Michael Anderson

Michael Anderson
Michael Anderson
Commissioner Michael Anderson
Lower Red River Basin
E-mail
(701) 430-0812
Term expires: 6/30/2027

Connie Ova

Connie Ova
Connie Ova
Commissioner Connie Ova
James River Basin
E-mail
(701) 252-6861
Term expires: 6/30/2025

Jeff Frith

Jeff Frith
Jeff Frith
Jeff Frith
Devils Lake Basin
E-mail
(701) 739-7344
Term expires: 6/30/2025

Gene Veeder

Gene Veeder
Gene Veeder
Commissioner Gene Veeder
Upper Missouri River Basin
E-mail
(701) 570-3392
Term expires: 6/30/2027

April Walker

April Walker
April Walker
Commissioner April Walker
Upper Red River Basin
E-mail
(701) 367-5291
Term expires: 6/30/2029

James Odermann

James Odermann
James Odermann
Commissioner James Odermann
Little Missouri, Upper Heart, & Upper Cannonball River Basins
E-mail
(701) 575-4767
Term expires: 6/30/2025

Jay Volk

Jay Volk
Jay Volk
Commissioner Jay Volk
Lower Missouri River Basin
E-mail
(701) 400-1004
Term expires: 6/30/2025

Jason Zimmerman

Jason Zimmerman
Jason Zimmerman
Commissioner Jason Zimmerman
Mouse River Basin
E-mail
(701) 833-0505
Term expires: 6/30/2029