I’m pretty sure I’ve had this as a topic before but it is probably due for an update. Flood work in Moorhead is continuing. You may have seen some heavy equipment hard at work up until the ground frost set in. They hope to finish up that section this spring. Rep. Ben Lien has submitted legislation for MN State funding for the remainder of the work that needs to be done for Moorhead’s newest addition, formerly Oakport. This isn’t a typical legislative year for that kind of funding, but I am feeling optimistic. Beyond our internal flood protection work, the FM Diversion Authority is meeting regularly. Nancy Otto serves on the Authority (and has from its inception), Heidi Durand is on their Land Management Committee, and Brenda Elmer on the Outreach Committee. In August 2015, we hope to hear the first draft of the MN DNR Environmental Impact Study. This is important because it will signal what action will happen next, and possibly free up additional funding. The intriguing, sometimes frustrating and crucial piece to this work is that the required levee heights may change with additional information. We have been working to the 100-year flood level of 42.5 feet based on the latest FEMA Study in 2012. With freeboard, most of our levees are 44-45 feet elevation. But the Corps of Engineers, in developing the Diversion models, have predicted even higher flood levels. If those higher numbers prevail, Fargo could have an additional 19,000 homes that go into flood levels, and Moorhead could also have 820 homes. 820 is a lot of homes. Homes that people love, and homes that give value to our community. And so, I find myself interested in our MN DNR’s report, and what information that will give us. Time will tell.