REED TOWNSHIP, N.D. - Reed Township would like to do what it can to negate future flood damage, but they don't want to make their water problem somebody else's while doing so, said township Chairman Mark McAllister.
On Tuesday, the Reed Township Board unanimously approved asking county officials to conduct a hydrology study. The study, McAllister said, would examine water flow from Interstate 94 north into the southeast corner of Harwood Township and would include Raymond Township.
"If we cannot do a comprehensive plan with all the entities involved, all that is going to happen is we pass all of our troubles on to the next," McAllister said.
He said the townships cannot afford a study on their own, with costs upward of $150,000.
"The hydrology study is incredibly expensive. It might be three or four years of our budget before you can do anything," he said.
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However, a part of the half-cent sales tax passed by Cass County last year is to be used for flood-related projects, which is what McAllister said he hopes will help pay for the study.
McAllister said he asked to speak to the Southeast Cass County Water Resource District at its next meeting on April 29 and will request to stand before the Cass County Commission soon.
County Engineer Keith Berndt said if the Red River diversion is built, the township would be within the protected area. He said even those outside the proposed diversion area would see a benefit this year, as the design allows for extra drainage.
"It would have made things look a lot different the past few days," Berndt said.
As the township of more than 1,200 battles what has been called "unprecedented" overland flooding this year, board members are asking residents to track and report manhours, losses and expenses of flood fighting.
McAllister said tracking flood expenses will help the county when applying for federal funding.
"The higher the number the county ends up with, the more the federal government will help pay," he said.
North Dakota received a presidential emergency declaration last week, but officials are still working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to upgrade the state's limited declaration to include a federal cost-share for flood-fighting efforts prior to April 5.
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Reed Township Board member Gene Johnson said he estimates about $140,000 in damage to township roads has been done so far this year.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Wendy Reuer at (701) 241-5530
