President’s 2011 budget has more than $15 million for F-M flood control

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WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama’s budget for 2011 includes more than $15 million for a permanent flood control project for Fargo-Moorhead, North Dakota’s congressional delegation announced today.

The money includes $15 million for planning, engineering and design and $150,000 to finish the project feasibility study, according to a news release.

“When the Red River Valley faced record flooding last spring, President Obama promised that our communities would have the resources they need to fight the floods and bring permanent flood protection to the region,” Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., said in the news release. “The President made good on this promise. Obviously, there is more work to be done, but this is an important step forward in the process.”

Sen. Kent Conrad received the president’s budget today as chairman of the Senate Budget Committee.

“Though there is still heavy lifting yet to do, this is yet another positive sign of the federal government’s commitment to protecting this region from future floods,” he said.

Sen. Byron Dorgan called flood control a “bottoms-up process” and said he intends to keep the momentum going by using the Energy and Water Appropriations panel he chairs “to lay the foundation for flood control in the Red River Valley.”

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