North Dakota Legislature Supports Flood Protection

The town of Minot, N.D., have accessed $82.5 million for flood control and $100 million for the Northwest Water Supply Project for the next two years as part of state funding.

“The water commission budget bill was huge for Minot,” said Ryan Ackerman, administrator for the Souris River Joint Board, according to The Minot Daily News. “We are satisfied.”

Dan Jonasson, Minot public works director, is satisfied with the funding for the city’s major water projects. According to The Minot Daily News, the amount settled on for flood protection will advance aspects of the project.

“It will keep things moving along at a pretty good pace,” Jonasson said to The Minot Daily News.

The town had been hoping for $100 million for flood protection, however, the State Water Commission gave the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection $70 million when preparing the budget. According to The Minot Daily News, the state Senate approved $65 million, and the amount then became $82.5 million in the House.

The project will mostly likely be a two to three year project, as the money will allow for about $11 million in property acquisitions and the start of construction on the $40 million MI-5 phase. According to the Daily News, the phase extends from the Third Street bridge to the east tieback levee.

“Outside of city limits, there also is significant work planned,” Ackerman said to the Daily News.

The levee improvements are being planned for in both Burlington and at Tierrecita Vallejo, as well as some water conveyance improvements. In Burlington, about $30 million in improvements is planned and about $20 million in Tierrecita Vallejo. According to the Daily News, the Burlington levee project could start in the fall once work finishes on the Colton Bridge replacement, which is set to start soon.

“One or two months delay in funding authority can turn into a full year delay,” Ackerman said to the Daily News. “It gives us a lot of additional flexibility to get the work done.”