We were glad to learn Saturday that the Red River had
crested—lower than expected—bringing some relief to Fargo, North Dakota. As I
write this on Monday another storm is headed toward the city, though; the
wind—and its potential to create waves that could weaken or damage levees—is
considered more of a threat than any precipitation it might bring. Much of the
city has been fortified with sandbags, some dropped by helicopter and many
more—millions of them—filled and placed by hand by the many home- and business
owners trying to protect their property.
North of Fargo, the city of Grand Forks, North Dakota, has a more
permanent $417 million levee system in place. Residents pay hundreds of dollars
in taxes a year to pay for the system—which right now must be looking like an
excellent investment. The city, the state, and the federal government all
contributed to the cost of construction.
The system, which consists of grass levees, concrete floodwalls, and
flood gates, was constructed after the floods of 1997, when the Red River
flooded, damaging 9,000 homes and causing about 90% of the city’s residents to
evacuate. The system was completed in 2007.
Other cities—Cedar Rapids, for one—are looking at building similar
systems. Some cities including Fargo bought up homes in the floodplain after the
1997 floods. However this season turns out for Fargo and other cities along the
river—and we hope they have now seen the worst of it—a major flood season will
provide plenty of opportunity to re-evaluate flood control options for the
inevitable next time.