North Dakota projects, studies and information papers

Continuing Authorities Program 14: Sheldon Road Bridge

The purpose of this project is to formulate a plan to stabilize the river bank adjacent to Sheldon Road in order to protect the bridge from eroding into the Sheyenne River.
Published: 4/3/2020

Environmental Infrastructure Assistance: Section 594, North Dakota

The program authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assist public entities, in the form of design and construction for water-related environmental infrastructure, and resource protection and development projects in North Dakota. These projects include wastewater treatment and related facilities. They also include combined sewer overflow, water supply, storage, treatment and related facilities as well as environmental restoration and surface water resource protection and development.
Published: 2/26/2015

Flood Control Sites (ND): Lake Ashtabula, Homme Lake, Souris River

Homme Lake and Lake Ashtabula are multiple-purpose sites with flood risk management, recreation and environmental stewardship business functions. Souris River Project is used for flood control and mitigation activities. Homme Lake is 2 miles west of Park River, North Dakota, on the South Branch of the Park River. Walsh County, North Dakota, leases land to operate a recreation area with overnight camping, a day-use area and a boat launch. Lake Ashtabula (Baldhill Dam) is 12 miles northwest of Valley City, North Dakota, on the Sheyenne River. It has overnight camping, swimming, boat launching, and picnic and playground facilities. About 2,500 acres are used for wildlife management. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) owns Upper Souris and J. Clark Salyer Refuges. Lake Darling is 20 miles northwest of Minot, North Dakota. J. Clark Salyer Refuge is 65 miles northeast of Minot, North Dakota.
Published: 2/27/2015

Flood Plain Management Services: North Dakota

This program is to educate individuals who live and work in floodplains on flood hazards and the actions they can take to reduce property damage and prevent the loss of life. The program’s objective is to foster public understanding of the options for dealing with flood hazards and to promote prudent use and management of the nation’s floodplains. Projects in the Flood Plain Management Services (FPMS) program occur throughout North Dakota.
Published: 3/16/2017

Flood Risk Management: Fargo-Moorhead Metro

The Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area is a major health, education, cultural and commercial center. The area is prone to flooding. The Red River of the North has exceeded the National Weather Service flood stage of 18 feet in 60 of the past 124 years (1902 through 2023, with seven of the top 10 floods occurring in the last 30 years. 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.
Published: 2/27/2015

Flood Risk Management: North Dakota Silver Jackets Team

Silver Jackets teams are collaborative, state-led, interagency teams that are continuously working together to reduce flood risk at the state level. Through the Silver Jackets program, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, additional federal, state, and sometimes local and tribal agencies provide a unified approach to addressing a state’s flood risk priorities. Often, no single agency has the complete solution, but each may have one or more pieces to contribute. Silver Jackets team activities and projects occur throughout North Dakota.
Published: 2/26/2015

Levee Safety Program: North Dakota

The basic objectives of the Levee Safety Program are to develop balanced and informed assessments of levees within the program; evaluate, prioritize and justify levee safety decisions; and recommend improvements to public safety associated with levee systems. The Corps created the National Levee Database, inventoried all levees in the program and improved inspection procedures. The Corps is developing a method to manage its portfolio of levee systems and is reviewing and revising current levee-related policies and procedures.
Published: 2/26/2015

Planning Assistance to States: Red River Basin Comprehensive Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of various flood risk reduction measures basin-wide to reduce main stem peak flows by 20% for the larger rare events such as the 0.5 (200-year) and 0.2% (500-year) chance of exceedance floods.
Published: 9/27/2021

Planning Assistance to States: Red River Basin Long Term Flood Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of various flood risk reduction measures basin wide to reduce main stem peak flows by 20% for the larger rare events such as the 0.5% (200-year) and 0.2% (500-year) chance of exceedance floods.
Published: 3/22/2019

Planning Assistance to States: Souris Basin Study

Investigating and evaluating water supply and flood control options requires a thorough understanding of the water resources of the Souris Basin. This comprehensive study also updates the knowledge of the hydrological and hydraulic processes of the Souris River Basin under the current climate regime and climate change. Computer modeling is used to simulate various water supply and flood control options, and methods will be developed to evaluate the effects that these options will have on resource groups.
Published: 9/25/2017

Souris Basin Section 408

Following the 2011 flood event, North Dakota developed a preliminary engineering report that evaluated alternatives to mitigate flood risks throughout the Souris Basin. The report recommended a flood risk management project that would provide protection up to the 2011 flood of record levels or approximately 27,400 cubic feet per second.
Published: 2/26/2015

Souris River Basin, North Dakota

In the mid-1970s, a series of major flood events occurred. To protect the communities, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers constructed a series of emergency levees under Public Law 84‒99. These levees were later incorporated into the federal project. Since then, the emergency levees have undergone limited maintenance and experienced structural encroachments; however, these levees remain the primary line of defense for major flood events. While the emergency levees have provided some protection against major flood events, a permanent solution is needed to reduce the flood risk to these critical North Dakota communities. The Souris River in the North Dakota cities of Burlington, Minot, Logan, and Sawyer had a flood of record in 2011 with flows of 27,400 cubic feet per second. These flows devastated the communities and caused evacuations of more than 11,000 residents and approximately $1 billion in damage to private and public property.
Published: 2/27/2015

Tribal Partnership Program

The Tribal Partnership Program (TPP) provides authority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to utilize TPP to perform water-related planning activities and activities related to the study, design and construction of water resources development projects located primarily on tribal lands that substantially benefit federally-recognized tribes. To start the process, a tribe submits a study request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps evaluates the request, and if viable, the Corps works with the tribe to determine a scope of work and enters into a feasibility cost sharing agreement (FCSA). Following the execution of the FCSA, the Corps seeks federal funding for the study.
Published: 9/25/2017

Tribal Partnership Program: Hydrogeologic Study and Groundwater Flow Model with Scenarios of the Shell Valley Aquifer, Turtle Mountain Reservation, ND

The Tribal population within the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation relies on groundwater, mainly the Shell Valley Aquifer, as their source of water. In November 2019, the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indian (TMBCI) requested assistance to provide scientific information needed for managing tribal community groundwater resources and to better understand potential contaminate flow paths.
Published: 9/27/2021