The Corps releases permanent flood control options

(WDAY TV) - It's a flood fight that not only riveted our area, but the nation. It's also a fight that's lead to a fast track plan to get the region permanently protected for the next 500 years. The Army Corps of Engineer’s options were released today for the first time and it has revealed the work that's still ahead.

With the regions most influential leaders on hand, today a look at what permanent flood protection could look like for the Red River Valley. 11 plans were researched, 5 are now getting a second look. They include 6 diversion projects on the Minnesota side highlighted here in red. Three different diversion options on the North Dakota side highlighted in blue and 2 levee plans along the red highlighted in black.

The option getting the most attention and the most cost effective is a plan to move water around the metro with a Minnesota diversion. The Corp says this plan has the least impact on the environment and the best ability to keep water levels low. A North Dakota diversion still needs more research, but already it's showing many obstacles, including wildlife and other water sources to deal with.

A system of levees is looking to be the least likely. It would involve buying up to one thousand homes in the metro, 700 in Fargo and three hundred in Moorhead; plus change the area's landscape.

The Corps says a combination plan is not possible because it's too costly. Now, the hugest hurdle to jump is time. A decision on which plan is most preferred must be picked by December first.

The final five options range in price from 900 million to 1.3 billion dollars. The Corps will outline the selected protection options, costs and economic impact at two community meetings this week.

They're tomorrow night at the Howard Johnson in Fargo from 6 to 9pm and Wednesday night in Hagen Hall at MSUM, also from 6 to 9. With all this talk about flood protection, many are wondering what the future is for Fargo’s south side flood protection project.

Fargo city leaders say they're still going ahead with the project. It may just have to move further south, but a final decision on its future depends on what final plan is chosen. Six million dollars in projects has already been started on south side protection.

“We’re going to do some levee's, maybe some retention, do some different options that we need to do for the city. We will still protect the city the way we have to, but it might modify a lot from what we originally looked at.”

The plan is to also continue work on upgrading and adding new pump stations in the south part of town.

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