Diverting the Red River on KFYR-TV North Dakota's NBC News Leader

Diverting the Red River |

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Breanna Borries

10/19/2009

The flood control options are on the table for the Fargo-Moorhead area. The Army Corps of Engineers unveiled three concepts at a regional flood management meeting this morning.

The Corps says the three alternatives include a diversion channel through Minnesota, a diversion channel through North Dakota and levees along the bank of the Red River.

The next goal is for decision makers on both sides of the river to agree on an option by the end of the year.

It`s not clear yet what will hold back the mighty Red River and protect Fargo Moorhead from future floods, but Army Corps Engineer Aaron Snyder now has recommendations.

"A diversion is a very robust solution," says Snyder.

And commissioners like Kevin Campbell agree with the idea.

"Distinguishing the difference between a diversion and a levee, no question a diversion is a preferred route," Campbell says.

The corps recommended diversion would be built on the Minnesota side.

Although this is only one option. Fargo commissioner Tim Mahoney says building on North Dakota`s side raises concern.

"The issue with the North Dakota diversion is the fisheries issue," Mahoney says. "Crossing four rivers, two interstates, cost-benefit have to look at that a little bit."

Local officials have one month to make a decision about which option they plan to move forward with.

"Just the whole cost benefit ratio we got to narrow that down in the next couple of weeks. Be fairly confident this project is going to work," says Campbell.

The cost of the corps-recommended Minnesota diversion option is over $900 million.

Local government has to pay 35-percent of that cost.

Fargo would pick up 80-percent of the local portion, Moorhead would pay the rest.

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