Washington, D.C. –Congressman Rick Berg today met with Colonel Michael Price, Commander of the St. Paul District of the Army Corps of Engineers, to review the ongoing flood recovery efforts in North Dakota and to discuss long-term flood management of the Souris River. 

“This year’s flood event was nothing short of devastating, and as North Dakota families and businesses work to rebuild their communities, they need certainty to plan for the future,” Berg stated. “I will continue to work with the Corps to ensure that a long-term plan is in place to manage the Souris River and mitigate future flood events so that the devastation we experienced this year is not repeated.”

Berg urged the Corps to prioritize better communication between the United States and Canada so that water levels in the Souris River can be tracked more accurately.  Price discussed the role that the International Souris River Board, a group consisting of Canadian and American officials including Price, will play in managing and mitigating future flood events.  Price noted that the Board will require the Corps to complete a report on this year’s Souris River flooding, which will be reviewed and used as a resource for the long-term flood management of the Souris River.

Price also discussed recovery efforts in Minot, noting that debris removal is slated to be completed by the end of September.  In addition, the Corps is working to construct approximately 1,200 temporary housing units, with the first forty units due to arrive in Minot soon.

Berg and Price also discussed water management in the Devils Lake and Red River Valley regions.  Price noted that the Corps is putting structures in place along Devils Lake to provide an additional three feet of protection. In addition, Price mentioned that the Corps will be making a decision Friday, September 23 on moving forward with plans for the Fargo-Moorhead Diversion project.

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