Area cities continue with flood protection efforts

(WDAY TV) - The Mayor of Lisbon is concerned the wet fall could mean more flooding for the small town. People in Ransom County battled record levels on the Sheyenne River this spring.

Now, Mayor Ross Cole says not enough time or money is being spent on planning for another possible flood. He says the town can't afford to keep building dikes and replacing streets every time there's high water. Even though FEMA helps, people in Lisbon still pay a percentage.

"We're spending a lot of dollars on flood recovery, where I feel we could be using some of them dollars for permanent flood control."

Ponds near Lisbon are full and that's causing the increased worry of spring flooding.

People living downstream from the metro shouldn't panic just yet about the side effects of a diversion. Many homeowners worry saving Fargo-Moorhead will force more water to smaller communities.

Engineer Jeff Volk says it's too soon to be concerned. Preliminary studies show the added flow downstream would be measured in inches, not feet. A plan is needed by next month or the project could be delayed.

People in Wahpeton will soon be free from flooding when the city gets heavy rainfall. The city is working on a 10 block, 379-thousand dollar drainage project on the south side. It's the first of three phases to help that part of Wahpeton drain faster. The new line will be nearly twice the size.

Every time it rains more than a couple inches, homeowners have to deal with mainly minor flooding.

"We’ve had puddles down here we've had a lot of backyard ponding and also just about up in a couple in low areas just about up into the driveway with the water so hopefully this will help carry a lot of that out."

The other phases will start next summer and expand sewer drains to help even more with the flooding.

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