<< Read and Download Original Richland County Water Resource District Comment Letter >>
June 24, 2013
Aaron Snyder
Department of the Army
St. Paul District
United States Army Corps of Engineers
180 Fifth Street East, Suite 700
St. Paul, MN 55101-1638
RE: Fargo-Moorhead Flood Diversion Project Environmental Assessment
Dear Mr. Snyder,
The Richland County Water Resource Board has numerous concerns relative to the Fargo-Moorhead Flood Diversion Project and wishes to submit the following comments:
The Richland County Water Resource Board feels the United State Army Corps of Engineers did not adequately review the concept of building smaller retention sites in lieu of the large staging area created by the dam. The Richland County Water Resource Board, in conjunction with the Cass County Water Resource Board (aka Richland-Cass Joint Water Resource Board) is currently working on identification of retention sites within the Wild Rice River watershed, with an eye towards construction of viable sites.
The Fargo-Moorhead Flood Diversion Project may be in violation of federal rules against utilizing federal dollars for a project which removes land from the natural flood plain. It appears a large area south of Fargo is being developed and the diversion is being pushed back to make room for development within the flood plain area. This will make the entire area north of the diversion dry. Not only does it appear this may violate federal rules, it also appears the diversion and water staging project is more for economic development, rather than flood protection.
The City of Moorhead has resolved the majority of their flood problems with slow and steady progress; Fargo should also be working in this direction prior to prematurely undertaking this massive flood diversion project.
The Richland County Water Resource Board understands and agrees that Fargo needs protection; however, all other options should be considered and all viable options taken to also protect those to the south of the project and to protect the money of all taxpayers.
Don Moffet
Chairman
DM:mz
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