North Dakota, Minnesota Leaders Ask Obama for River Diversion Money
Members of Congress from both sides of the Red River in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota are asking President Barack Obama to include $30 million in his next budget for work on a river diversion project in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
The request is for Obama to set aside the money for planning, engineering and design work on the project to provide long-term flood protection for the metropolitan area.
The letter was signed by North Dakota Sens. Kent Conrad and John Hoeven and Rep. Rick Berg; and Minnesota Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Collin Peterson.
Fargo-Moorhead has battled major spring flooding for three straight years. A river diversion is expected to cost $1.8 billion. The project has met opposition from several communities downstream on the north-flowing river.