Two northern Red River Valley communities are building and raising dikes in preparation for major flooding in the next week or so.
In Drayton, N.D., crews from Harold Helm Truck Line started building 1,000 feet of an emergency levee, most of which runs along Main Street, on Wednesday. The project, which will provide flood protection to 47 feet, should be completed by Friday, according to Drayton City Auditor Carol Gardner.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded the $64,000 contract this week.
The Red River at Drayton was at 35.78 feet at 10 a.m. Thursday. The National Weather Service projects the river reaching 42 feet by next Wednesday.
No crest forecast has been issued. The river reached a record 45.55 feet in Drayton in 1997, and 43.82 feet in 2009.
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Meanwhile, Gowan Construction, rural Oslo, Minn., finished work on approximately 1,500 feet of an emergency levee and two closures in Oslo. The $149,000 project brings the dike to 42.5 feet.
The Red River hit 34.23 feet at 10 a.m. today. The weather service projects the river to reach 37.9 feet by next Wednesday. No crest forecast has been issued.
Oslo's record flood occurred in 2009, when the river reached 38.37 feet. It reached 38 feet in 1997 and 37.91 feet in 1978.
Both projects are considered temporary dikes, according to the corps.
Reach Bonham at (701) 780-1110; (800) 477-6572, ext. 110; or send e-mail to kbonham@gfherald.com .
