Approval of Fargo-Moorhead Plan Spurs Planning of Flood Control Project

U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota has released a statement following the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ approval of the Fargo-Moorhead flood control project in December. The approval now allows the Congressional delegation to work to secure authorization and federal funding for the project.

"This is another important step in the process of securing permanent flood protection for the Fargo-Moorhead region. This comprehensive, permanent flood protection project is part of the locally preferred plan. It has the backing of the local community, surrounding counties and state, and now has the backing of the Corps," Conrad said. "This diversion project is vital. It reduces the flood risk to over 200,000 people. It provides the protection this community needs, and its approval should now be a priority for Congress."

Earlier in 2011, Conrad sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to support the flood protection project and include $30 million in the budget for the next fiscal year to advance the plan. In December Congress approved an additional $11.4 million for the project for the planning, engineering and design stages.

Although the Fargo-Moorhead region in North Dakota has suffered some of its worst flooding in recent years, experts warn it is only a matter of time until the area is hit with catastrophic flooding. According to the Corps, a 100-year flood event would cause nearly $6 billion in damages. A 500-year event would flood nearly the entire city of Fargo and a large portion of Moorhead, threatening thousands of lives and devastating the area economically.

Source: PoliticalNews.me