This Chapter of the North Dakota Century Code concerns the Southwest Water Authority. It is hereby found and declared by the legislative assembly that many areas and localities in southwestern North Dakota do not enjoy adequate quantities of high-quality drinking water. It is also found and declared that other areas and localities in southwestern North Dakota do not have sufficient quantities of water to ensure a dependable, long-term supply. It is further found and declared that supplementation of the water resources of southwestern North Dakota, with water supplies from Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River, utilizing a pipeline transmission and delivery system, is a feasible approach to provide southwestern North Dakota with a safe, good quality, dependable source, and adequate quantity of water. It is further declared that opportunity for greater economic security, protection of health, property, enterprise, preservation of the benefits from the land and water resources of this state, and the promotion of the prosperity and general welfare of all of the people of North Dakota depends on the effective development and utilization of the land and water resources of this state, and necessitate and require the exercise of the sovereign powers of the state and concern a public purpose. Therefore, in order to accomplish this public purpose, it is hereby declared necessary that a project to supply and distribute water to southwestern North Dakota, as authorized by chapter 61-24.3, and acts amendatory thereof and supplementary thereto, be established and constructed, to (1) provide for the supply and distribution of water to the people of southwestern North Dakota through a pipeline transmission and delivery system for purposes including domestic, rural water, municipal, livestock, light industrial, mining, and other uses, with primary emphasis on domestic, rural water, and municipal uses; and (2) provide for the future economic welfare and property of the people of this state, and particularly the people of southwestern North Dakota, by making available waters from Lake Sakakawea and the Missouri River for beneficial and public uses. It is also declared necessary to study and further develop water resources to provide adequate water supplies for energy, industrial, agriculture, and other opportunities in southwest North Dakota. The provisions hereof may not be construed to abrogate or limit the rights, powers, duties, and functions of the state water commission or the state engineer, but must be considered supplementary thereto.