03.30.12

Hoeven: OMB Approval of F-M Flood Control Project a Step Forward

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today said he’s pleased the Office of Management and Budget has approved the Chief’s Report for the Fargo-Moorhead flood control project, but the key will be when the Record of Decision (ROD) is formally signed so that the project can proceed to authorization, as well as continued appropriations to move forward.

“We clearly need permanent flood protection for the Fargo-Moorhead area, rather than an almost annual flood fight,” Hoeven said. “While a lot of work remains to be done, approval of the Chief’s Report takes us another step closer to permanent flood protection for the cities. Once the ROD is signed, the diversion project will need to be authorized by Congress in a Water Resources Development Act, which is used to approve civil works projects. We’ll continue to push hard for that in the Congress.”

The Corps worked with officials in Fargo and Moorhead to develop the planned diversion as the locally preferred plan for permanent flood protection, which was adopted in the Chief’s Report.

Hoeven has worked with local, state and federal officials on the Red River Valley permanent flood protection plan, including meeting with Acting Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Major General Merdith W.B. Temple and the Corps’ Civil Works Review Board.