Flood Risk Management: Section 205, Minnesota River, Montevideo, Minnesota

Purpose

Minimize flood damages and disruptions caused by recurring flooding of the Minnesota and Chippewa rivers.

Location

Montevideo is located in Chippewa County in western Minnesota, approximately 130 miles west of St. Paul, Minnesota. The city is at the confluence of the Chippewa and Minnesota rivers and is subject to flooding from both rivers.

Status

In fiscal year 2008, federal funding was provided through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Continuing Authorities Program to construct the project. The project cooperation agreement was executed in August 2007. The project was then broken into four different stages: Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3a and Stage 3b. 

• Stage 1 construction work was completed in August 2009, and Stage 2 was complete in 2012.
• Stage 3a construction work was physically completed in fall 2018.
• The Railroad Closure construction is underway and expected to be completed in spring 2021.
• The last remaining stage is Stage 3b, which  includes raising 2,300 linear feet of the south leg of the 1969 levee by Gravel Road. Designs are complete in anticipation of contracting the work for the next construction season, summer 2021. 

Authority

Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948, as amended.

Funding

The initial costs were shared 65 percent federal and 35 percent non-federal, up to the federal limitation of $7 million. The non-federal sponsor has provided the balance of the funding.

Federal Cost                                                 $7,000,000
Non-Federal Cost                                      $10,350,000
Estimated Total Cost                                 $17,350,000