Why is flooding in the Red River basin getting worse? The underlying cause of increased flooding in recent years is 16 years of rainy and snowy weather.
Similar conditions occurred in the late 1800s and also brought increased flooding. But people are also a large part of the problem. Dikes we've built to protect us also force the water higher, and diversions can send the water downstream faster.
Even if these effects are small, they are real. Undeniably, the efforts of area farmers to drain water from their fields more quickly are a major contributor to the greater frequency and severity of the floods in recent years. But, likewise, urban and suburban expansion along the river core increases runoff and also narrows the space where the river can pass.
As our government leaders work to find the best solution for flood protection, we should remember that we are all a part of the problem.
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