Officials Optimistic Red River Is Under Control

Every spring some flooding occurs along the Red River. The river flows north toward Canada, and, because it melts upstream while downstream is still frozen, water tends to back up. This year, heavy rains in the last two weeks and heavier snowfall in North Dakota than in Canada aggravated the situation.

But with only scattered showers expected for this weekend, officials across the Red River Valley voiced optimism Friday that they would be able to stay ahead of the river.

Authorities said a partially completed federal flood control project, a quick local response and a break in the weather had lessened chances of a replay of the floods that destroyed much of this city and neighboring East Grand Forks, Minn., in 1997.

The Red River was expected to crest early next week at a little more than 45 feet at Grand Forks, a foot less than had been initially predicted. Flood stage is 28 feet.

“We have some concern, and we don’t want to take any chances, but listening to the forecasts, I think we can easily handle it,” said East Grand Forks Mayor Lynn Stauss.

Some of the clay levees built in 1997 have been reinforced. But one permanent improvement is an “invisible levee” in East Grand Forks, consisting of a brick foundation to which steel posts and slats are attached when there is a danger of flood. Part of the invisible levee is up, though it has not been assembled to its full height.

Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura visited East Grand Forks on Friday and said it is too early to declare an emergency, which would qualify the area for federal disaster funds.

North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven declared a state of emergency earlier this week.

“Let’s wait until the river crests,” said Ventura, who arrived for a news conference at the Blue Moose Bar and Grill in East Grand Forks dressed in purple sweat pants with yellow stripes, white waterproof boots, a Pig’s Eye Ale jacket and his customary U.S. Navy SEALs cap. He also brought work gloves, which he had used Thursday night to help residents of Breckenridge, Minn., fling sandbags on top of the clay levees.

At the southeast end of North Dakota, officials at Wahpeton expressed optimism that the worst might be over and credited improvements made following the 1997 flood with preventing a more serious situation.

Public Works Director Jerry Lein said a number of huge pumps installed in 1997 alongside the levees, plus temporary equipment installed last week, had been helpful in preventing street flooding.

Officials, however, are concerned about budget cuts proposed by the Bush administration that slash 30% of the federal funds that had been allocated for a permanent flood control system in this area.

“We did OK this time, but we need permanent flood protection, and for that we need the federal money,” Stauss said.

Gary Sanders, East Grand Forks city engineer, said the flood control project begun by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after the 1997 disaster won’t be completed until 2004. It is expected to cost about $350 million and create 18 miles of permanent levees to protect the two cities from floods up to 59 feet.

He said cutting $10 million of the $35 million the federal government had earmarked for next year could stymie the project. Local governments are expected to contribute half of the cost.