Flood protection options for the entire Red River basin are discussed

Moorhead, Minn. (WDAY TV) - Some homeowners in Moorhead say they are concerned about the direction flood control is going. About 25 people came to a meeting to look at options not just for the city, but across the entire basin.

The Red River Basin Commission is looking for insight on where to go from here. Members are visiting about 20 flood communities to see what taxpayers want done. Jim and Nancy Cole are no strangers to trouble. South Moorhead couple battled rising water last spring.

“We had to help the neighborhood or it would've been our home.”

Tonight, the Coles are telling their story to help the future of flood control across the Red River Basin.

“It's not just the Red River, it's the Sheyenne, it's the Devils Lake thing that dumps into there, and it’s all those other tributaries.”

“We always seem to be reacting to the last flood based on who got the most damage last time.”

The Red River Basin Commission is going straight to homeowners to see what they want for a permanent solution. Ring dikes, holding areas, and dikes are some options being talked about.

“As we go downstream from Fargo-Moorhead, and up to Winnipeg, everybody's really worried about what things like dikes and diversions are doing to them.”

The commission will put this information into a report to be given to lawmakers to see what funding is available.

“Yeah it's costly, yeah it's the wrong time, but we've been putting it off for awhile.”

A final report won't come until June 2011. For information on upcoming meetings in other communities, go to www.redriverbasincommission.org.