FARGO, N.D. – The Corps of Engineers completed a temporary emergency levee near the city hall along 2nd Street in Fargo, N.D., April 29. The Corps completed the temporary levee near the city hall to support the city’s flood fight efforts against the Red River of the North. This is the fourth time in the past five years that the Corps has assisted the city.
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, offers the following tips to citizens monitoring levees. The Corps of Engineers is actively assisting local officials with evaluating temporary levees constructed during this year’s flood fight. Residents concerned with the integrity of a temporary levee should call the non-emergency dispatch number at (701) 451-7660. If it is an emergency, call 911. Here are some things to look for when looking at temporary emergency levees: Seepage occurs when water penetrates through or under the levee. If water is spotted, it’s important to note the color of the water. Dirty colored water may indicate material is being lost within the levee. Levee stability involves ensuring the levee is not sliding or collapsing. Cracks can be observed while monitoring a levee. If possible, mark the location and size of the crack and report it to the appropriate local official. Scour is usually found on the wet side of the levee and is caused by flows removing material. If scouring is detected, immediately move any pump away from the scoured area.
Each levee system is unique. In general, the most important thing to look for is change. Is there a crack where there wasn’t one before? Has a crack increased in length or width? Is there a wet area that was dry before? The nearly 700 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, employees working at more than 40 sites in five upper-Midwest states serve the American public in the areas of environmental enhancement, navigation, flood damage reduction, water and wetlands regulation, recreation sites and disaster response. Through the Corps’ Fiscal Year 2011 $175 million budget, nearly 2,800 non-Corps jobs were added to the regional economy as well as $271 million to the national economy. For more information, see www.mvp.usace.army.mil.
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Release no. 13-050
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