At Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Area Groundbreaking Ceremony, Klobuchar Highlights Her Work to Strengthen Flood Protection

Statement

At the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Area Groundbreaking Ceremony, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) highlighted her work to provide comprehensive flood protection for the Red River Valley. Klobuchar played a key role in securing a $437 million federal investment for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to boost the Red River Flood Diversion project through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was signed into law last year. With these resources, the project has now received the complete federal funding commitment of $750 million.

Klobuchar was joined by Senator John Hoeven (R-ND); Governor Doug Burgum (R-ND); Fargo Mayor Dr. Tim Mahoney; Moorhead Mayor Shelly Carlson; West Fargo Mayor Bernie Dardis; Metro Flood Diversion Authority Executive Director Joel Paulsen; Metro Flooding Diversion Authority Chairman and Cass County Commissioner Chad Peterson; and leaders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

"The Red River has exceeded flood stage 55 times since 1902, which is alarming on its own. But the problem has actually worsened with seven of the top ten floods occurring in just the last three decades…With floods…you see roads closed for days, cars whisked away and families losing their homes," said Klobuchar. "It's up to us to have people's back…Completing this federal funding commitment…is going to mean 200,000 Minnesotans and North Dakotans can rest easy knowing that permanent help is on the way."

Klobuchar has long led efforts to advance permanent flood protection in the Red River Valley. Last December, Klobuchar and Hoeven met with Acting OMB Director Shalanda Young and local leaders from the Fargo-Moorhead region to make the case for fully funding the project. The senators, along with Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND), also raised these priorities with Young in a letter sent in November. Last April, Klobuchar and Hoeven held a roundtable with state, local and Army Corps officials in Fargo and discussed progress on the I-29 grade increase and the initial excavation of the Red River Control Structure site.

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