A few cities in northern Red River Valley face greater flood risk

As communities in the northern Red River Valley prepare for this year's spring flooding, Pembina County will be fighting the flood without its emergency manager.

But because flood fights are so common, that shouldn't be an obstacle, according to County Commission Chairman Gary Nilsson. "People around here know what to do," he said Friday.

The chance of major flooding is significant for several valley communities, according to the spring flood outlook the National Weather Service issued Thursday. Pembina, N.D., and Neche, N.D., each have a greater than 95 percent risk.

"They all have their local flood action plans," said Monica Brusseau, Pembina County's assistant emergency manager who is now acting manager.

She replaces Jill Pedersen who left for family reasons, according to Nilsson. The county commission accepted her resignation this week.

Also facing a significant chance of major flooding is Oslo, Minn., which has an 80 percent risk.

Pembina, Neche

The Red River at Pembina has a 50 percent chance of exceeding 52 feet, 3 feet higher than the start of major flood stage. If the river reached 52 feet, it'd be the third worst flood on record; the record is 54.94 feet, set in 1997.

Most of the city of 590 is protected by a ring dike, which is being recertified, according to City Auditor Nancy Thompson. The top of the dike is at 57.3 feet.

Neche, a town of 370 on the Pembina River to the west, has a 50 to 75 percent chance of exceeding 21.4 feet, nearly a foot higher than the start of major flood stage. The record is 24.51 feet set in 1997, but that was before agricultural dikes in the area were removed, giving water more room to spread out.

While the top of the dike protecting Neche is at 24.3 feet, North Dakota Highway 18 floods at about 20 feet, which would cut off access to the town and the nearby border port-of-entry.

Oslo

Further to the south, officials in Oslo, Minn., are looking forward to a less eventful flood season. The city built an $11.5 million permanent dike last year, providing protection to 42 feet, more than 3 feet higher than the record of 38.37 feet in 2009.

This year, there is a 50 percent chance of the Red River reaching 37.1 feet, about a foot higher than the start of major flood stage.

Still, they're not worry-free in Oslo, a city of 325.

With no grass or other vegetation on the new dike on the city's west end, Mayor Scott Kosmatka said they're concerned about erosion.

And the levee project is not completely finished yet, he said. Once the spring flood threat is gone, crews will widen the base and add to the top to meet federal guidelines on the slope of the embankment.

In addition, Oslo becomes isolated at about 35.5 feet, as overland flooding starts to cover roads leading to the city. In past floods, the city has become an island for weeks at a time, accessible only by air or by boat.

Kosmatka said the city is prepared to declare an emergency once the floodwaters begin to flow.

"We were all hoping it wouldn't happen this year, but it looks like it will," he said. "We're no strangers to it. You deal with it when it comes."

Drayton

In Drayton, N.D., a city of 825, officials are gearing up for the almost annual task of erecting a 3-foot-high temporary levee on a two-block section of Main Street, along an oxbow on the Red River.

"The riverbank is so unstable there," City Auditor Carol Gardner said. "It's gotten to be sort of a routine. Last year was a nice break."

The Red has a 50 percent chance of exceeding 41.8 feet, a couple of inches shy of major flood stage. The city has only a 41 percent risk of a major flood. The record is 45.55 feet, set in 1997.

Call Bonham at (701) 780-1110; (800) 477-6572, ext. 1110; or send email to kbonham@gfherald.com .