Fargo-Moorhead flood protection: up to 16 options
FARGO, N.D. - As many as 16 options have been drafted on how to better protect Fargo-Moorhead from flooding.By: Associated Press, Associated Press
FARGO, N.D. - As many as 16 options have been drafted on how to better protect Fargo-Moorhead from flooding.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to hold public meetings next month to take input on the various ideas.
Corps spokesman Aaron Snyder says engineers have been refining the alternatives that include several diversion channels - six on the Minnesota side of the river and three or four on the North Dakota side.
Some of the options also include removing buildings from the flood plain, while others don't.
The estimated cost of the options should also be available.
The corps hopes to pick a final plan by January.
The meetings are tentatively planned for Oct. 21 in Moorhead, Minn., and Oct. 22 in Fargo.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Tags: spring flood 2009, news, fargo, flood, moorhead, daily updates
Todd F. West Fargo, ND 09/11/2009 6:14 PM
Reality Check I did the math for you, According to the USGA when the Red, just the Red River was flowing at 36.69 feet, ( took that as a quick average for the month at peak flood) the Red flows 20300 cuft/sec. There are 43560 cu ft in a Acre/ft (1 acre 1 foot deep) that equals 2.14 Acreft/sec or 128.4 Acreft/minute, 184896 acreft/day or 5,546,880 acreft/month. With 640 acres in a section, that 5.5 mil would need 312.5 sections of water 27.73 feet deep! That is an impoundment Just on the ND side you said, so 10 miles wide and 31,25 miles long! And that’s just for the Red River w/o the Sheyenne flow. I think you might have political problems in ND too.Report a Violation
Todd F. West Fargo, ND 09/11/2009 5:28 PM
reality check, you will need a calculator that goes to 10-12 digits if you try to figure out big of a dam that would temporarily hold those river flows. A little creek like the Sheyenne River was filling Lake Ashtabula faster then they could dump it, which is why they almost lost Valley City and that dam is in a valley. Ashtabula (Bald Hill Dam) is 70,200 acres and that was just the Sheyenne River, Now you want to impound those other creeks streams and the Red River? No problem, I'm sure every farmer from I-29 east to Highway75 would be more than willing to have 10-20 feet of water stored on their land for a month. Oh and how many millions to build 20 high man-mad impoundment walls around your storage dam?Report a Violation
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Reality Check .. Fargo, ND 09/11/2009 9:46 PM
ToddI understand the difficulties associated with this solution. It will require a sizeable reservoir. I'm not suggesting we include Sheyenne water. Rather, I'm suggesting we build a multi tiered system, that has an outlet that pushes some of the Red's water thru a canal system, and redirects into the Sheyenne Diversion (if needed) in.a 500 year flood scenario. I'm envisioning a structure that had outlets both into the Red River, and also over to the Sheyenne diversion. It wouldn't be used every season.
Yes the square acreage would be large. There is no answer without the general public having an understanding that whatever "choice" is the answer, it will be HUGE... whether it be a diversion and dam, or building a floodwall and displacing homes... whatever is done will be LARGE and controversial. So let's get past the shock and awe of the solution. Yes the price tag will be LARGE also. Given the topography of the situation, there is nowhere "upstream" to store water, without doing something audacious.
A dam that would be built will be at least as large as the Bald Hill Dam, I hope you weren't implying that something small would be acceptable. Therefore, given that size we are looking at spending upwards of a few hundred million easy. That is a given. It is just going to be a large number and the citizens of Cass county better get cozy with just how big an undertaking is coming...
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