Fargo Diversion

Officials with the Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead say while housing development remains robust in the Fargo-Moorhead region, the ability to sustain growth will hinge on developing permanent flood protection. Immediate Past-President Clay Dietrich says the Red River diversion would not create a large area for development of housing, but without the project there would be greater limits...

“A community that doesn’t have the ability to offer all types of housing and all types of opportunities to people is at a disadvantage to every place else.”

The Chairman of the Red River Diversion Authority says additional meetings with Minnesota leaders may be in order to make sure everyone understands the diversion project. Daryl Vanyo says he is puzzled by recent comments by state lawmakers and Governor Dayton – Dayton recently issued a letter saying while the project would bring great benefit to North Dakota, it would damage property in Minnesota – and that would be unacceptable. Vanyo says the actions raise questions with him…

The Legislature has given final approval to the budget for the state Water Commission – that contains what House Majority Leader Al Carlson (R-Fargo) called “softer language” on the proposed F-M diversion.

Earlier in the session, Carlson sponsored an amendment that would have prohibited any state money from being spent on the diversion project until the federal government authorizes the project. Carlson says the new language worked out in conference committee is softer, but still has some hoops for the diversion project.

The state Senate has again changed the language in the state Water Commission budget bill – concerning the F-M diversion project.

The language now says state money can be spent on the project – when federal dollars earmarked for project construction start to flow. That differs from the previous language – which prohibited state money from being used until the federal share was completely in-hand.

A setback for supporters of the proposed F-M diversion project.

The state Senate has approved language in the state Water Commission budget bill that prohibits state money from being spent on the diversion until the federal government comes through with its share. Although the diversion project is number two on the Army Corps of Engineers’ list, no federal money has been appropriated yet for the project.

Supporters and opponents of the proposed F-M diversion made their final pitches to a state Senate Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday.

The House put language in the state Water Commission budget bill that would prohibit Fargo from spending any money on diversion construction until federal money is secured. It would allow Fargo to build up its dikes to 42-and-a-half feet.

Supporters of the Red River diversion project are asking a state Senate committee to remove amendments to the state Water Commission budget that they say will kill the project.

The amendments – introduced by House Majority Leader Al Carlson (R-Fargo) and approved by the house – say no further money can be spent on home buyouts or ring dike projects until the federal government approves its share of the one-point-seven Billion dollar project cost.