Hoeven: Today's Signing Important Step Toward Permanent Fargo-Moorhead Flood Protection
FARGO, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven today said the approval of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Chiefs Report this week is an important step in moving the Fargo-Moorhead flood protection project forward. Acting Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Major General Merdith W.B. Temple approved the report Tuesday and a ceremony marking its signing was held today at Fargo City Hall.
“We clearly need permanent flood protection for the Fargo-Moorhead area, rather than an almost annual flood fight,” Hoeven said. “While a lot of work remains to be done, the signing of the Chiefs Report takes us another step closer to permanent flood protection for Fargo-Moorhead. The diversion project now needs to be authorized by Congress in a Water Resources Development Act, which is used to approve authorized civil works projects.”
The senator attended today’s signing ceremony for the Corps’ Chief’s Report along with Corps, state and local officials, including Corps St. Paul District Commander Col. Michael Price, Congressman Rick Berg, Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker, Moorhead Mayor Mark Voxland, and Cass County Commissioner and Diversion Board of Authority Chairman Darrell Vanyo.
The Corps has worked with officials in Fargo and Moorhead to develop the planned diversion as the preferred alternative for permanent flood protection. In May, the Corps released a supplemental draft feasibility report and environmental impact statement for public review and comment through June.
“While moving forward with this project is important, we also need to do everything we can to reduce the project’s impacts on upstream communities like Oxbow, Hickson and Christine, as well as other homes, businesses and farms,” Hoeven said.
Hoeven has worked with local, state and federal officials on the Red River Valley permanent flood protection plan, including meeting with the Corps’ Civil Works Review Board. Additionally, Hoeven and the North Dakota congressional delegation wrote to President Obama asking him to support the Fargo-Moorhead region’s efforts and to include $30 million in his FY 2013 budget to advance the project. Last week, Congress appropriated an additional $11.4 million for the flood protection project.
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