Purpose
The purpose of this study is to gather 444 river miles of main stem channel bathymetry data from White Rock Dam to the Canadian border for the Bois de Sioux and Red River of the North. That data will be combined with terrestrial Light Detection and Ranging, or LiDAR, data of the adjacent terrain to provide a seamless elevation data set for planning studies.
Location
The Red River of the North rises in Lake Traverse near Wheaton, Minnesota, and flows north towards Canada and ultimately to Lake Winnipeg. This is a basin-wide study in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Description
The North Dakota Department of Water Resources requested that a comprehensive elevation data set be produced for various types of computer modeling and Geographic Information System (GIS) analyses. This part of the effort involves gathering 444 river miles of main stem channel bathymetry data from White Rock Dam to the Canadian border for the Bois de Sioux and Red River of the North. That data will be combined with terrestrial LiDAR data of the adjacent terrain to provide a comprehensive planning tool.
Project tasks include obtaining the hydrographic survey data and combining it with existing terrestrial data into one GIS-based elevation model.
Status
A partnership agreement was executed between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the sponsor, North Dakota Department of Water Resources, in January 2023. Project cost estimate was determined to be insufficient to complete scope of project. An amended cost shared agreement was submitted in March 2024. If funded, the project will commence in fiscal year 2024.
Authority
Section 22 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93‒251), as amended. The study is being conducted under the Corps’ Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program, following the 50/50 cost-share formula with the non-federal sponsor. The sponsor may contribute additional funds beyond this formula.
Funding
The following is an updated cost for the project and associated cost share with sponsor.
Total Study Cost $485,000
Total Federal Funds Allocated to Date $ 75,000
Total Sponsor Funds Received $ 75,000