Purpose
The purpose of this work is to repair the flood control measures that were damaged in the 2022 spring floods in Noyes, Minnesota.
Location
The Noyes levee is in Kittson County, Minnesota, and forms an integral part of a ring levee surrounding Emerson, Manitoba, and Noyes, Minnesota.
Description
In April 2022, the Red River of the North basin experienced a localized rain event in combination with rapid melting of a heavy snowpack, creating severe flooding in North Dakota and Minnesota. The Noyes levee system experienced damage due to wave action caused by elevated river levels under high winds. The erosion will require approximately 3,100 linear feet of repair including impervious fill replacement, topsoil placement, and seeding.
A levee failure could result in flooding of depths up to 5 feet, loss of life, and estimated damages in the range of $8.8 million. During flooding, both Emerson and Noyes are completely cut off from overland assistance and rely on boat or airlift for support.
The Noyes levee and an international levee segment were constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) pursuant to an agreement between Canada and the U.S. in 1988. The treaty states that St. Vincent Township, with the assistance of the Department of the Army, must maintain the Noyes levee.
The levee had been inactive in the USACE Rehabilitation and Inspection Program and was ineligible for Public Law 84-99 funding. However, the township signed an agreement that allowed reenrollment in the program provided the township pay the rehabilitation costs for design and construction of the deferred maintenance. Additionally, as this levee is part of a greater international ring levee system that surrounds both U.S. and Canadian communities, failure to repair the levee could be considered a breach in the international treaty.
Status
A tree removal contract was awarded in March 2025 to clear trees from the borrow area. The design of the repairs is under final reviews, and work is scheduled to be completed in the 2025 construction season.
Authority
Original project: This work is authorized under Section 401(d) of the 1986 Water Resources Development Act (Public Law 99-662), as amended by Section 109 of the 1988 Continuing Appropriations Act, Public Law 100-202.
Emergency repairs: This work is authorized under Public Law 84-99.
Funding
The design and construction of this effort will be completed with federal funds.
Estimated cost
Project Information Report $35,000
Project repairs $1,886,000