Environmental and wildlife concerns tied to building a Red River flood diversion channel in Minnesota or North Dakota were among the top concerns discussed in a meeting Wednesday in Fargo.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials said they heard no serious objections from experts representing both states and several federal agencies on plans to mitigate any problems caused by the diversions.
Jon Sobiech, a corps environmental specialist, said most questions now center on movement of fish where the diversions cross rivers, and on problems with river flows, sediments and erosion.
“There weren’t any surprises,” said Craig Evans, one of the project’s co-managers.
Corps documents show:
A Minnesota diversion would affect 24.5 acres of wetlands, while a North Dakota channel would affect 71.5 acres. In Minnesota, 85 acres of wetlands within a half mile of the channel could be indirectly affected. In North Dakota, it’s 192 acres. The corps will create two acres of wetlands for every one that is lost. That cost is about $30,000 an acre. A Minnesota diversion would be built a mile west of the Buffalo aquifer to avoid compromising it. Riparian, or riverbank habitat damage, will be mitigated at two acres for every one damaged. Damage is anticipated at the inlet and outlet of a diversion, and where the diversion crosses the five tributaries of the Red (Wild Rice, Sheyenne, Maple, Rush and Lower Rush rivers) in North Dakota. A Minnesota 35,000-cubic-feet-per-second diversion would remove 6,500 acres of prime farmland from production, while the same size North Dakota diversion would remove 6,000 acres. In Minnesota, five homes, 21 outbuildings and three industrial buildings would be taken out for the diversion. The Dilworth rail yard is also a major concern. In North Dakota, six homes and 41 outbuildings would be removed. It’s estimated that a bridge will have to be built every three miles along the diversions, causing inconveniences for some. About 10 acres of Red River aquatic habitat might be lost in building a control structure and rerouting the river. The corps would create 20 acres of habitat. That cost is $6 million to $7 million. Between 45 and 60 miles of the Red River will have its hydraulics affected. Monitoring will cost $2.5 million. Increasing the width of gate bays for the diversion to improve fish passage and a wider fish bypass channel will cost $8 million. Improving fish passage for a flood bypass channel could cost $10 million. Aquatic habitat at the control structures for the Wild Rice River will be replaced with 16 acres of habitat for $5 million to $6 million. For the Maple and Sheyenne rivers, four acres of new habitat will cost $1 million to $1.5 million.
The control structure at the Wild Rice will require $4 million to $5 million to fix sediment transport changes and other issues. Monitoring for the Wild Rice, Maple and Sheyenne will cost $2 million to $2.5 million.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Helmut Schmidt at (701) 241-5583
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