Green Light Given for Red River Diversion Project

A big green light is given to the controversial Red River Diversion project.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it is including the diversion among six projects slated to begin construction this year.

It will receive $5 million that Congress appropriated for 2016, although it isn’t clear how the money will be used.

The diversion was previously authorized by Congress, but federal funding needs to be approved each year.

North Dakota Senators Heitkamp and Hoeven say the announcement is important, but the project still needs to satisfy worries of people upstream.

“We can move forward, that’s very important. But it’s also very important that this flood protection is comprehensive for Fargo for Moorhead for the region and that is addresses the upstream concerns,” said Sen. John Hoeven.

“We have built relationships at the Corp and built relationships over at OMB that really make a difference.  As we look at this we’ve got not only the new start but we’ve got money in the ’16 budget,” said Sen. Heidi Heitkamp.

The federal government has provided nearly $50 million for flood projects in the Red River Valley since 2011.

That includes over $25 million for home buyouts.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also had big news for LaMoure.
 
The Corps included the city in its Fiscal Year 2016 work plan.

It will provide nearly $4 million to upgrade LaMoure’s sanitary sewer system.

The city uses a system that uses clay pipes that date to the 1930s and 1940s.

High levels of ground water along the James River often force the city to bypass the system and pump sewage directly into the environment.