Fargo Moorhead Diversion Authority Monitor | An Independent News Organization
I do not oppose the plan for personal reasons. No, the reason that I oppose this dam/diversion is because it is not the best solution for the Red River Valley. This plan is being pursued for one reason and one reason only. It is greed which is motivating this choice, and nothing else. I would like to know how this ND dam/diversion plan can reconcile against FEMA’s Executive Order 11988.
Continue ReadingThe initial plan took quite some time to develop but the final plan was pushed through very rapidly without input from the communities that will be adversely impacted. The alignment of the Diversion has been chosen by the local sponsors to accommodate the city of Fargo’s current future plans for development. It is not based on sound engineering principles or with the intent of minimizing the costs of the project as much as possible but rather to remove land that is in the existing flood plain for development.
Continue ReadingScientists have raised concerns about these soils, and it makes no sense to move toward authorization when we have no idea of what kinds of supports will be required or how deep they need to go to carry the structures safely. This project has been rushed through the planning process and is not ready to go to Congress for authorization. Alternatives have not been properly considered, and the public and agencies have not been given sufficient time to evaluate the Final EIS.
Continue Reading…it seems strange that homes and farms that in some cases were established 140+ years ago are not worth saving for historical and cultural purposes if not for the sake of the families that live there. Since our settlements were developed by immigrant populations rather than native populations, does that make their value less significant? Do not our laws protect our heritage, as well? I have hoped that the planners of this Flood Control Project would come to realize that this sacrifice asked of the Comstock-Hickson Communities, the surrounding townships of Holy Cross and Pleasant and the farms and homes on the 54,000 areas to be flooded is more than should be asked of anyone.
Continue ReadingTake any single aspect of the Fargo Moorhead Dam and Diversion, scrutinize the data and the findings don’t pan out. When one considers the lack of a real 500 year flood threat versus the impacts and benefit to cost ratios the entire document that the proposed Fargo Moorhead Dam and Diversion is being based upon, […]
Continue ReadingBought and Paid For: The Corps planning documents show no analysis of why the Northern Inlet is not a practicable alternative. The basic premise that the local non-federal sponsor determines the specific alignments to be considered and the level of flood protection to be provided is deeply flawed. Planning based on this premise leads to an unwise use of billions in tax dollars. We have no evidence that the process of planning this project has been fair or reasonable. The FEIS does not address adequately the concerns raised by our lawyers in their comments on the SDEIS.
Continue ReadingDr. Mahoney talks about how Fargo has given up 400 or so houses that were built by the river at 36 or 37 feet. How high is the level around Davies high school? They are still issuing building permits at these same levels banking on the diversion aren’t they? If the Corp has not determined this cost or possible impacts how can you proceed with a project not knowing the possible outcomes and still say this is the best plan when not all is know.
Continue Reading“If their lips are moving, they’re lying! When the diversion project was first advanced, Oxbow asked to be included within its protection. We were refused but also assured that the project would not affect us, that it wouldn’t change our situation, either for better or for worse. We could live with that and proceeded to build flood protection for ourselves.
Continue ReadingThe current alignment of the proposed diversion and water staging is such that it protects a growth area of Fargo that is currently a natural waterway for overland flooding during most flood events. The sacrifices that the upstream communities are being told to endure are immense. The proposal to protect that area for development and push that water onto areas that historically have not had flooding is not only arrogant and unethical but should be illegal.
Continue ReadingThis correspondence is in regard to the proposed diversion and dam in the Fargo, ND area. From the plans that I have seen, this is way oversized, overpriced, and only assists the Fargo/West Fargo/Moorhead communities. But to decide that this community has more “rights” than the communities that will be effected by this proposed structure is wrong, very wrong. Don’t let this go through until there is a plan to help upstream and downstream areas and communities.
Continue Reading