North America | Flood protection project


A landmark climate change mitigation project that intends to address major flooding across the US states of North Dakota and Minnesota, should be completed by 2027. Development of the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion was prompted by historic flooding of the Red River in 1997, which caused an estimated US$3.5 billion in damages. Once completed, the scheme will protect more than 235,000 people from flooding


Right: The Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion


Below: Martin Nicholson (centre), Deputy Executive Director for the Metro Flood Diversion Authority, accepts the IJ Global award recognising the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion project as the 2022 Public Sector of the Year for North America


THE US STATE OF North Dakota has the country’s second highest inland flood risk behind Louisiana, with 235,000 people and their homes, businesses and property at risk of catastrophic flooding. Fargo in North Dakota and Moorhead in Minnesota


are on the west and east banks respectively of the Red River of the North, approximately 240km south of the Canada-US border. Described as a major health, education, cultural and commercial centre, the Fargo- Moorhead metropolitan area is also prone to flooding with average annual flood damages estimated at approximately US$238 million. Out of 55 of the past 118 years (from 1902 to 2019), the Red River of the North has exceeded the National Weather Service flood stage of 5.4m: seven of the top ten floods have occurred in the last 30 years. A 500- year event would flood nearly the entire city of Fargo, a large portion of the city of Moorhead and several smaller communities in the area. Flooding occurs not only from the rivers but also from large rainfall events that overwhelm storm drainage systems. It was the 1997 flood event, which set a record at the time when it crested at 12.1m and caused US$3.5 billion of damages, that prompted planning for the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion project. Plans are now in place and the project is moving forward. Construction started in 2017 and by 2027 the region is on track to have permanent, reliable flood protection provided by more than 180km2


of infrastructure.


Diversion The Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion project is a


Below: Joe Pihlaja (left), with Ames Construction, inspects a trunnion hub on one of the large gates that will control floodwater flow through the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion (Photo from Metro Flood Diversion Authority)


Congressionally authorised federal project that is using a split-delivery method where two simultaneous construction schedules can be completed faster and for less expense. A Project Partnership Agreement between the


government (the US Army Corps of Engineers) and non-federal partners – the Metro Flood Diversion Authority (MFDA) and the City of Fargo and the City of Moorhead – serves as the official agreement for construction. MFDA is the governing authority managing the


project which is described as being the first public- private partnership floodwater diversion project in North America. The US Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for the design and construction of the southern embankment and its associated infrastructure which will be carried out in phases. While the Red River Valley Alliance (RRVA) is a consortium of developers charged with developing, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining the project. RRVA is responsible for the construction of the diversion channel and associated infrastructure. Lead


22 | June 2022 | www.waterpowermagazine.com


members include ACCIONA, Shikun & Binui USA and the North American Construction Group. This monumental climate-mitigation infrastructure


project includes a 48km diversion channel to divert floodwaters of the Red River away from the Fargo- Moorhead-West Fargo metro area and protect it from recurrent floods. Last year, the Red River Valley Alliance named COWI North America, along with Hatch, as the design leads for the channel portion of the diversion and will be responsible for all the major design aspects. In addition to the 48km channel, the project involves: ● A diversion outlet. ● A berm spanning the length of the channel. ● Two pairs of interstate bridges. ● Nine county road bridges. ● Three local road bridges. ● Three rail bridges. ● Two aqueducts. ● Twelve drain inlets. ● Two river flow directing structures. ● An administration complex. Environmental impact mitigation, access and security features are also included. “COWI is very excited to be a part of this ground- breaking comprehensive flood protection project,”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37