Fargo Moorhead Diversion Authority Monitor | An Independent News Organization
Keven Campbell, as a Clay County’s representative on the Diversion Authority Board supported the plan to flood Clay County, voting lock step with Darrel Vanyo and Fargo’s development interests. Jon Evert, a native of Comstock, Jon voted to flood his own community.
Continue ReadingChairman Vanyo’s public response thus far has been to describe Ms. Townley and the DNR as being “confused,” having been duped by the Upstream Coalition. The purpose and intent behind the ring dike concept is well documented: mitigation of the impacts of the FM Diversion Project.
Continue ReadingThe U.S. Army Corps ran the numbers, and it didn’t work. Historic river levels didn’t justify the cost of a diversion. Flood control for Fargo is relatively inexpensive compared to the massive cost to convert floodplain for future development. The goal of their stew is to predict as much damage as possible to the city of Fargo in the case of a 100-year flood.
Continue ReadingCooking the books to grab land. Fargo, Cass, the Fargo Diversion Authority and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers artificially inflate future land values in an attempt to justify a massive land grab of the last natural flood plain adjacent to the city.
Continue ReadingAre Moorhead leaders that bow to Fargo ND pressure serving their constituents responsibly? Should Moorhead abandon the Diversion Authority and focus on economic growth for Moorhead MN? Fargo has crossed the line that divides a neighbor in need from a demanding bully. Isn’t it time for Moorhead, Clay County and Minnesota to step back and take a strong look at Fargo’s agenda, and evaluate whether the clear lack of benefit justifies the impacts and costs to Minnesota residents.
Continue ReadingA false choice is again being served up: “cooperate with the ring dike details or we’ll build it without your cooperation.”
Continue ReadingFargo has more than $200 million in cash from the state of North Dakota, and receives more than $30 million a year from sales tax, and yet they have to build a clay dike in front of their City Hall if the Valley gets a heavy rain. Moorhead can take $100 million from the state of Minnesota and get 100-year flood protection, but Fargo has to take 50,000 acres from the folks south of town to get theirs
Continue ReadingThe other residents from Bakke and Hickson were asked to vote whether they would agree to a ring dike. After they overwhelmingly voted no, Fargo leaders decided to ignore their votes. Now the only votes that count are the 61 from Oxbow. There are 190 residences that will be encircled.
Continue ReadingThe 2009 river flows at Oxbow exceeded a FEMA 500-year event. As a result of the work done to protect Oxbow after the 2009 flood, the city is protected to levels in excess of that same 500-year event today. Cass County along with Oxbow leaders devised a way to ignore 67 percent of property owner not in favor of an unnecessary $65 million ring dike that affects 190 internal properties and all external properties in Pleasant Township.
Continue ReadingFargo needs plan C: Quit building in the floodplain. Build your dikes to 43.5 feet and get out of FEMA insurance requirements. Invest in basinwide retention to give protection beyond the 100-year flood level. Moorhead should be congratulated for getting their city safe from spring floods.
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