Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker said early today he doesn't think the city will need emergency dikes.
But until the threat of flooding from rain has passed, the city will remain vigilant, he said.
"It's a process where we go day to day," Walaker told a group of city and county officials who gathered at 7 a.m. to talk about flood preparedness.
Walaker said the most recent forecast from the National Weather Service holds out the possibility for a Red River crest of 29.8 feet by Thursday, a level he said the city could weather without emergency dikes.
The"worst-case" crest predication was based on widespread heavy rain falling in the Red River Valley. Walaker said the light precipitation that fell Thursday night will likely mean a drop in the forecasted crest.
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However, if the forecast reaches 30 feet, Walaker said he will ask Gov. John Hoeven to declare a state of emergency in the city, which would pave the way for help from the U.S. Corps of Engineers to build dikes.
"Right now, it would be my guess we will not have to do that," Walaker said, adding city officials will watch the situation closely today and meet again Saturday at 9 a.m. to evaluate the flood situation.
Park District Executive Director Roger Gress said workers will soon finish augmenting a dike that protects Jack Williams Stadium and Mickelson Field in north Fargo.
A permanent dike protects the area up to a river level of about 28 feet. The extra dirt will protect the ball fields to about 31 feet, Gress said.
