All that neighborhood damage not necessary?

I live on Woodland Drive in north Fargo. Last October, there was a groundbreaking ceremony for the Ridgewood Flood Control Project, which consists of the construction of an earthen dike and flood wall in our neighborhood and along Elm Street. Gov. John Hoeven, Rep. Earl Pomeroy, Mayor Dennis Walaker, the media, and many others were there.

This project is costing tens of millions of dollars. Now this seems like it was all for nothing. If a diversion is built, there is no need for the

8-foot-high earthen dike covered in dirt that is now across the street from our home, blocking what was a lovely view of the river. There is no need for the 8-foot-high flood wall that now runs along Elm Street and required the street to be closed for six months. There was no need to cut down dozens and dozens of beautiful, mature trees that lined the boulevard, leaving the neighborhood treeless on one side of the street, or to demolish seven lovely homes, or for construction crews to damage our street with potholes.

I believe Fargo-Moorhead needs flood protection. Before talk of this diversion, I was grateful that this area of north Fargo was going to be protected, despite all the damage mentioned above. Now I just wish city leaders and the Army Corps of Engineers would have done some thinking before jumping to start any projects.

What is left in our neighborhood now seems useless to me, if a diversion is built. The only way I would feel better is if the corps nixed this diversion plan, or if crews would come back, flatten out the dike and tear down the flood wall so we can have a view, replant rapid-growing trees, repair our street, and eliminate the property assessment the neighborhood residents are all being charged for this.