The director of the State Historical Society of North Dakota says work should start this fall on a project to shore up the Missouri River banks at Double Ditch, north of Bismarck.
Claudia Berg says Double Ditch was a Native American village that existed for more than 300 years. She says the 2011 Missouri River flood undercut that bank.
"The bank is now slumping quickly and drastically," said Berg. "Graves are being exposed. Unless we do something to stop that erosion, it's going to keep going."
The 2015 Legislature put a $3.5 million funding package together to work on the problem. Berg says studies have already been completed on what to do at the site.
"The next step will be hiring an engineering firm that specializes in bank stabilizations," said Berg. "Maybe by this fall, we can start some dirt work. We're not sure -- weather will determine many things."
Berg says the Society is also working with the Corps of Engineers for the necessary permit to do the bank work. She says she expects that to come before fall.