Ransom County officials consider retention ponds for flood protection

Lisbon, ND (WDAY TV) - Officials in Ransom County are also looking for the answer to permanent flood protection. They say the Baldhill Dam isn't enough and right now, homeowners are pushing for retention ponds. At another flood meeting, this time outside the metro, discussion turned to how the Baldhill Dam effects flooding in rural towns.

For most of us, we can't help but think of the flood of 09 as historic, but for Virgil Schultz, his thoughts go back decades.

“In 69 and 75, it was a total disaster and we had no help from anybody.”

The rural Sheldon man is frustrated about a project in place to alleviate high water.

“The Baldhill Dam really has very little effect as far as flood control.”

Schultz says the dam was designed wrong; 80 percent for recreation, 20 for flood control. He's now for retention ponds near the Sheyenne River.

“Maybe 5, 6, 7, 8 of them along the way, I don't know.”

“You're protecting those properties along the riverbank, rather than removing them.”

Corps leaders say retention is more beneficial for rural areas, a win for towns and a loss for farmers.

“You might lose some production in farmland. You might have to take in consideration the environment impacts.”

Lisbon Mayor Ross Cole says he'll support any project that will save his town worry and money. Cole credits the Baldhill Dam for doing just that this spring.

“If we hadn't had the Baldhill Dam this year, I don't know if Lisbon would've been here.”

The dam is most beneficial to Valley City. As you go further south, there's more inflow coming into the Sheyenne that can't be controlled. The cost for retention is not yet known.