Water News:

John Helland: Digging Deeper on the Red River

Just as the swallows faithfully return to Capistrano in California each Spring, so does the talk and threat of Red river flooding weigh on the minds of folks in Fargo-Moorhead.  And, similar to last Spring's floods in the cities, with a price tag of $50 million to prepare for and clean up afterwards, new plans are underway to come up with a more permanent option to lessen any flooding impact.

Fargo has been looking at two large levees south of town, but what's attracking more serious attention is a project called "The Big Ditch".  Proposed with the help of the U.S.

John Helland

Corps of Engineers, this flood-relief option would divert the Red river in a deeply constructed ditch on either the North Dakota or Minnesota side of the twin towns.

It appears at this stage that the North Dakota diversion is preferred by the local community, but at a very serious price tag of close to a billion dollars.  During these times of economic recession, where both private and public monies are hard to come by, it's important to show that this project can both work for flood control and not cause any unintended consequences...especially for the environment.  It's not an easy task to suddenly decide to divert the current and waterway of a major river that is used to going the way it wants.

Early cost-benefit analysis by the Corps show that the billion-dollar cost outweighs the perceived benefits.  However, the two new levees proposed are viewed with suspicion by the locals because of the "flat as a pancake" terrain of the area, and the fact that 1,000 homes along the river in Fargo and Moorhead would have to be moved.  So the Corps proposal moves ahead.

In fact today, the Corps and Senator Dorgan of North Dakota are meeting with local officials to talk further on the proposed diversion.  Whatever the results may be to go ahead, let's hope serious environmental, social and economic impact analysis is done rigorously so that "The Big Ditch" doesn't become The Big Oops!


John Helland worked on environment and natural resource issues for the legislature, and now writes, blogs and enjoys leisure while watching from afar.

Comments (1) Post a Comment

Feb. 1,2010 9:01 PM
I agree no "big oops."

There aren't any poll numbers to support either of us. None the less, the people who live in Fargo-Moorhead do support serious flood abatement --that is, construction addressing at least the 500 year flood frequency level. Those who don't support this likely live downstream because they will likely experience an earlier and higher crest according the US COE news release (2-1-2010). Hydrodynamics dictates this physical outcome.

If you think there is potential big oops, why not point to some other locations (Wiinipeg perhaps?) on the Red where the diversion created ecosystem havoc. With all due respect, this would help elevate the discussion above mere speculation.

Thank you.

David who lives in Moorhead above the 250 yr flood level but in the 500 yr.