The Daily News

The flood of 2009 differed from the 1997 flood in many ways. Almost the entire state received some sort of flood damage this spring, while the 1997 flood was contained in the Red River Valley. And the overland flooding in 2009 hit areas nowhere near the flood plain.

The Red River Basin Commission held a public meeting Monday, Oct. 19 in Hankinson to discuss the flood and is attempting to gather data in this first phase for long-term flood control. The group is using people’s experiences, concerns and ideas to report to the North Dakota and Minnesota legislatures to promote future flood control actions.

“There have been numerous studies related to flooding in the Red River Basin," said Lance Yohe, executive director. "What makes this different and exciting is that federal and state elected officials will use the project recommendations related to basin-wide goals and strategies to address the continual flooding.”

Advertisement

At the public meeting held in Hankinson, local, county and state officials sat side-by-side with concerned residents.

Brad Moore, member of Barr Engineering, was among those leading the meeting. He stressed the importance of relating personal flood stories as it helps lawmakers feel a personal connection with their constituents.

“There is a real fight for dollars on a national level,” Moore said. “What works best in the Legislature is these stories. These meetings will create a story to get people to care.”

Roger White, a Sargent County resident, had his own story to tell. His concerns dealt with the high water, the full landscape and what will happen come next spring.

Moore emphasized the need for people to e-mail their ideas for solutions to the basin commission. The compilation of these ideas may lead to permanent flood control.

The Red River Basin Commission will be holding similar meetings along the basin. It will take some time to collect data before the group heads into the second phase of the project, which is more in depth. In the second phase the group will develop recommendations for long-term flood control. It will be a larger plan which will deal with water quality, supply and habitat, Yohe said.

Yohe asked people to relate their stories and photos of their personal fight with the 2009 flood by e-mailing them to: floodf2009@redriverbasincommission.org. The commission will use these individual stories to make the legislative decisions more personal.

The Red River Basin Commission is a non-profit organization which works across the political boundaries of Manitoba and Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Comments