Leaders from the FM Area Diversion Board of Authority traveled to Washington D.C. to discuss the project with federal representatives and elected officials.
“It was important to travel to Washington and meet with the new personnel in the Trump Administration about the FM Diversion Project,” FM Diversion Board of Authority Chair, and Mayor of Fargo Tim Mahoney said. “We had successful high-level meetings with U.S. Senator John Hoeven, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp and Congressman Kevin Cramer.” The mayors also met with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar.
“Moorhead Mayor Del Rae Williams and I also met with staff members within several agencies, including the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Transportation, Assistant Secretary of the Army’s Office and the U.S. Department of Interior,” he said. “I am especially grateful to Senator Hoeven for securing a meeting with OMB Director Mick Mulvaney, which was both productive and impactful.”
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, and the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Board of Authority invite the public to a 1997 Flood Commemoration and Groundbreaking Ceremony at 1 p.m., Monday, April 17.
Community members are also encouraged to share their memories of the 1997 flood via email, twitter and video.
The Red River of the North is considered at flood stage at 18 feet on the Fargo gauge at 13th Ave s. In the past 111 years, the river has been higher than flood stage 50 times. In the past 21 years, the river has been higher than that 20 times. Emergency measures have been taken during these flood events, including in 2009 when the river was at 40.8 feet. Those emergency measures were estimated to cost $70 Million. Bigger floods have already been experienced in Minot and Grand Forks.
