Senator Larry Luick
District 25
17945 101 st Street SE
Fairmount, ND 58030-9522
lluick@nd.gov
<< Read and Download Original North Dakota State Senator Larry Luick Comment Letter >>
November 5, 2011
NORTH DAKOTA SENATE
STATE CAPITOL
600 EAST BOULEVARD
BiSMARCK, NO 58505-0360
COMMITTEES:
Agriculture
Education
To: Army Corp of Engineers, Senator Kent Conrad, Senator John Hoeven, and Congressman Rick Berg
This correspondence is in regard to the proposed diversion and dam in the Fargo, ND area. Fargo has been very effective in maintaining its stand against the possible flooding events for any years. I know that if I were living in Fargo, West Fargo or Moorhead, I too would be tired of the temporary protection. But to decide that this community has more “rights” than the communities that will be effected by this proposed structure is wrong, very wrong.
From the plans that I have seen, this is way oversized, overpriced, and only assists the Fargo/West Fargo/Moorhead communities. I believe we can do much better with less cost and better protection for the surrounding communities and local property. We need to start with retention up stream in many areas. These areas need to be kept drained down until needed. Do not let them become a wasted holding area, sitting full like so many sloughs in the eastern sides of ND and SD. The storage capacity of these areas is moot. Why?
The problem of high water in the Red River Basin is not a “big problem” it is a “small problem” that covers a large area. Get a handle on this problem in one area and then duplicate it in many more areas. We need to find all available retention possibilities, construct control structures, work with farmers willing to store water temporarily on their property (maybe tile this area to help the property get back into condition for possible farming in a timely manner). Then, relook at the need and size of this project. Maybe the need would go away altogether.
This ill-thought out plan will, and already has, adversely affected many land owners, communities, farmers, home and business owners, contractors, developers, school districts, Richland County, many townships, and others of vested interests.
I whole heartedly agree that we need to reduce or stop the threat of flooding in the cities of Fargo, West Fargo, and Moorhead, but I will not allow this problem just to be “pushed” onto someone else.
Don’t let this go through until there is a plan to help upstream and downstream areas and communities. We can make a viable “water controlled” region where more benefit is achieved from the investment.
Sincerely,
North Dakota State Senator Larry Luick
District #25
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