We're working on a Comprehensive Approach to Flood Protection for the Red River Valley

Statement

This week's passage of the Water Resources Reform Development Act (WRRDA) by Congress marks an important milestone. It paves the way to begin the construction phase of the permanent flood protection project for Fargo-Moorhead, but we need to make sure we take a comprehensive approach to flood protection for the entire Red River Valley.

This work has been ongoing since I was Governor of North Dakota and continues now during my tenure in the U.S. Senate, where we have made steady progress towards our goal. A comprehensive approach includes:

Permanent flood protection for Fargo-Moorhead. To date we have secured $35 million for project engineering and design (PED). Now funding can go to project construction.

Upstream flood protection is necessary. We need to continue to make sure upstream concerns are addressed.

Dikes, levees and other flood protection infrastructure within the Fargo-Moorhead area.

Affordable flood insurance premiums for homes and businesses.

Permanent Flood Protection for Fargo-Moorhead and the Red River Valley

Authorization of the Fargo-Moorhead diversion is critical because it enables us to now pursue federal construction funding to get the project started. The authorization is also necessary to trigger state and local funding for the project because that support is contingent on authorization and a federal appropriation. Now that we have authorization, we also need to make sure the Army Corps of Engineers takes a comprehensive approach to floods in the Red River Valley by addressing concerns regarding the upstream staging area.

Upstream Flood Protection

We need to ensure that we provide comprehensive flood protection for the entire valley, as well as the Fargo-Moorhead area, and a key to doing that is the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). We are working to get the Red River Basin designated a Critical Conservation Area, making it eligible for federal flood protection funding. As a member of the farm bill conference committee, I worked to include $500 million in funding for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, which provides funding for rural water management and flood protection.

More Dikes, Levees and Flood Protection Infrastructure in Fargo-Moorhead

In addition to the Fargo-Moorhead flood protection project and upstream flood protection, we need to build more dikes, levees and other flood protection infrastructure within the cities. We are working to secure more FEMA flood protection funding and anticipate receiving an additional $18 million within the next few weeks, bringing total FEMA flood protection funding for dikes and levees to $35 million just since the last flood in 2011.

Ensuring Affordable Flood Insurance

Recently, I worked with Senate colleagues to pass the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which prevents flood insurance rate increases and helps to make sure premiums are affordable for American families and businesses. The legislation also contains a measure I authored that enables homeowners to receive credit for flood proofed basements when determining flood insurance rates. We need to improve the financial viability of the National Flood Insurance Program, but we need to do it right and in a way that makes it affordable to those who need it.

All of these elements combined amount to a comprehensive flood protection plan for Fargo-Moorhead and the Red River Valley, a plan that will protect people and property in a reasonable and responsible way.

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