Minnesota comes closer to decision on massive flood diversion project

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is a step closer to a final decision on whether the agency will permit construction of a Fargo-Moorhead flood diversion.

Two years ago the DNR denied a permit for the more than $2 billion diversion which involves a dam and a 30-mile channel to divert part of the Red River around Fargo-Moorhead during floods. The agency has released a supplemental environmental impact statement on a revised project.

The agency said the plan shifted too much flooding from North Dakota to Minnesota, protected large sparsely populated areas in North Dakota, was incompatible with land use ordinances and didn't adequately mitigate environmental effects.

Last year, Gov. Mark Dayton and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum established a task force to develop a revised project likely to meet Minnesota standards.

The task force agreed on a plan that shifted more of the flooding to North Dakota and adjusted the location of a dam so less undeveloped land in North Dakota is protected. The changes could increase the project cost by hundreds of millions of dollars.

In the supplemental environmental impact statement released Tuesday, the DNR found the revised plan provides a more proportional balance of impacts and benefits between Minnesota and North Dakota. But the supplemental EIS found the plan "still appears incompatible with several local ordinances", and still lacks some of the necessary environmental mitigation.

"Some of those issues that were fatal flaws last time were pointed out in the EIS but they subsequently were the basis for denial of the permit in October 2016. We still identify some issues that need resolution," said DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr.

The project is also embroiled in a federal court challenge filed by upstream opponents and joined by the state of Minnesota. After the DNR denied a permit, a federal judge halted work on the project, ruling the project needed Minnesota permits for work that will affect Minnesota waters.

The DNR is still evaluating a permit request for the revised project. The decision is expected a few weeks after a public comment period on the adequacy of the supplemental environmental impact statement ends November 29th.

"Minnesota remains committed to enhancing flood risk management for developed portions of the Fargo-Moorhead area while also meeting Minnesota's rigorous floodplain management and environmental protection standards," said Landwehr.