Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fargo administration: diversion flood project nearing function and a regional Missouri River water-supply effort is gaining momentum
Summary
City Administrator Michael Redlinger said the diversion project should deliver functional flood protection within a few years and described a long-running regional effort to bring Missouri River water to Eastern North Dakota; he emphasized cross-jurisdiction partnerships with Moorhead, West Fargo and neighboring counties.
City Administrator Michael Redlinger told the Fargo 365 podcast that Fargo is close to realizing permanent flood protection through the diversion project and is pursuing a separate, long-term regional water-supply initiative.
"In the next couple of years, we're gonna have functional flood protection, in Fargo and West Fargo, Cass and Clay Counties," Redlinger said, describing the diversion as a near-term milestone for regional flood protection.
Redlinger also described a water-supply project that would convey Missouri River water to Eastern North Dakota communities including Fargo and Grand Forks. He said the effort has been worked on for years but is "building momentum." The project is intended to improve drought resiliency while the region simultaneously prepares for future flood events.
Why it matters: the diversion project has been a multi-decade regional priority to protect communities along the Red River, and a new water-supply project seeks long-term resilience for growth and drought risk mitigation.
Redlinger said cross-jurisdiction coordination is essential: Fargo 's geography spans state and county boundaries with neighboring Moorhead (Minn.), and agencies operate in different federal regions. He cited the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a partner that frequently works across those lines on large-scale projects.
Assistant City Administrator Brenda Darrig framed redevelopment and efficient use of existing infrastructure as complementary priorities: reinvesting in sites that already have utilities reduces the costs of new development and improves return on public investment.
Redlinger described the water-supply initiative as a long-duration undertaking that requires regional collaboration and federal engagement; he did not provide a timetable for implementation beyond saying the diversion would be functional in the next couple of years.
Next steps: Redlinger said the diversion's completion is anticipated in the near term; the Missouri River water-supply project remains in planning and regional coordination phases and will require sustained work with neighboring cities, counties and federal partners.
