Red River diversion plan

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Supporters of a plan to build a $1.46 billion Red River diversion heard mixed messages at two Monday hearings.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers leaders sounded much in support of the project, but a representative from the Office of Management and Budget was much more cautious, saying it was "far too early" in the budget process to make any promises.

Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., who moderated the meetings sponsored by North Dakota's congressional delegation, said it was critical to the future of the project to get it into President Barack Obama's budget.

There is a $67 billion backlog of water projects and just $5 billion to spend on them in the coming year, Dorgan said.

Relying on annual congressional action for the $825 million federal share of the project would not give it "a ghost of a chance," he said.

Corps commander Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp said the corps is committed to the project.

"We stand with you. There is a better solution. You cannot keep doing what you do every year," Antwerp said. "Let's get to the right solution here."

But Sally Ericsson, associate director of natural resources, energy and science for OMB, called the approval timeframe "very aggressive," and cautioned that there are other needs to balance in the budget.

"We're in a very tough fiscal situation," Ericsson said. "You have timing challenges ... There's authorization issues as well as appropriation issues," she said.

At the table for the meetings were North Dakota Democrats Sen. Kent Conrad and Rep. Earl Pomeroy, Minnesota Democrats Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken and Rep. Collin Peterson, Republican governors Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and John Hoeven of North Dakota, and representatives of Fargo, Moorhead, Cass and Clay counties.

Conrad said not doing anything to protect Fargo-Moorhead was a "potential risk to taxpayers."

He estimated that if Fargo-Moorhead were lost to a flood, it would require $8 billion to replace lost infrastructure.

But Conrad added that are enormous pressures to make dramatic cuts in the federal budget.

"Getting this project funded is going to be a major challenge. ... I think we've got a very good case to make, but we're making it at a very difficult time," Conrad said.

Aaron Snyder, the corps project co-manager, said there is a potential for a large loss of life -- perhaps 600 people if there wasn't an evacuation in a 500-year flood.

Pomeroy said the 200,000 residents of the Fargo-Moorhead area have protection to a 50-year flood level.

"This is about a completely unacceptable risk of exposure," Pomeroy said.

"This just can't continue like that with the risk to these two major cities," Klobuchar said. "The urgency is here and we must get this done,"

The corps estimates a 100-year flood on the Red would be 42.6 feet in Fargo. A 500-year flood would be about 46.7 feet.

The spring of 2009's record flood reached 40.82 feet in Fargo.

Between 1990 and 2010, more than $193 million has been spent on flood control measures --including buyouts and infrastructure improvements -- in Fargo, Moorhead and Cass and Clay counties, according to figures presented by Fargo Senior Engineer April Walker.

She said the metro has had 10 major floods since 1969 and that officials are worried about "flood fatigue." Someday there may be too much water and not enough volunteers.

"There is an event we will not win," Walker said.

Hoeven praised the local leaders and the cooperation between North Dakota and Minnesota.

"We've just absolutely got to keep this moving," he said.

"We hope this thing will move forward," Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said. "The bottom line, is we'd like to turn some dirt in 2012. ... People are tired, We need another break."

Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget, was invited to the second meeting, but did not arrive until it was nearly adjourned.

"The administration appreciates how serious the project is," Orszag said.

Klobuchar reminded him that parts of the F-M area came close to being inundated this spring.

"We believe the sooner we get this done, the better. Because every year is another risk," she said.

Helmut Schmidt is a reporter at The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead

which is owned by

Forum Communications Co.