USGCRP
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The April 1997 flood of the Red River washed out homes and businesses
that had been in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and East Grand Forks, Minnesota,
for generations. The disaster was expected to occur, at least on the average,
only once every 500 years. Since the flood, Mayors Pat Owens of Grand
Forks and Lynn Stauss of East Grand Forks have led major rebuilding efforts.
Their cities are now on the mend. But a new uncertainty worries them and
the area's residents. Will floods of this magnitude occur more frequently
in the future? If so, what level of protection must be provided? Can dikes
or diversion channels be built to withstand even greater floods? No one
is quite certain how severe or how frequent future floods--or droughts--will
be. But the climate change that is already underway could alter the pattern
of storms and spring melts in this region. The historical pattern of seasonal
river flows might change as well. - George Seielstad |
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