Fargo, N.D., and Moorhead, Minn., are on the west and east banks, respectively, of the Red River of the North approximately 150 miles south of the Canada/United States border. The Wild Rice, Sheyenne, Maple and Rush Rivers in North Dakota and the Buffalo River in Minnesota also cross the study area.
The Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area is a major health, educational, cultural, and commercial center. The area is prone to flooding; the Red River has exceeded flood stage in 48 of the past 109 years and every year from 1993 through 2011. A 500-year event would flood nearly the entire city of Fargo, a large portion of the city of Moorhead, and several smaller communities in the area. Flooding occurs not only from the rivers, but also from large rainfall events that overwhelm storm drainage systems. Average annual flood damages are estimated at more than $195 million.
Although emergency flood fights have been very successful, the area is significantly vulnerable to flooding. Both the 1997 and 2009 flood events came close to overwhelming the emergency levee systems.
Background
The Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area is a major health, educational, cultural, and commercial center. The area is prone to flooding; the Red River has exceeded flood stage in 48 of the past 109 years and every year from 1993 through 2011. A 500-year event would flood nearly the entire city of Fargo, a large portion of the city of Moorhead, and several smaller communities in the area. Flooding occurs not only from the rivers, but also from large rainfall events that overwhelm storm drainage systems. Average annual flood damages are estimated at more than $195 million.
Although emergency flood fights have been very successful, the area is significantly vulnerable to flooding. Both the 1997 and 2009 flood events came close to overwhelming the emergency levee systems.