Red River Flood Watch - Back to Moderate Flood Stage
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Posted by Alexandra Matiella Novak Apr 7, 2009 |
The Red River has slowed her charge significantly and river levels are now receding. However, Grand Forks officials are still taking the flood mitigation efforts seriously and climbing up the flood wall and dikes to get a better look is now a ticketable offense punishable by a $1000 fine and 30 days in jail.
Things are calming down in the Red River Valley, but residents of Fargo are still keeping a close watch on the river as a second crest is expected in the coming weeks.
While doing research for an article I recently published on Suite 101 - Geology of the Red River Valley - I came across a very enlightening article by local geologist Donald P. Schwert of North Dakota State University. In this report he states,
"Through popular media, the public tends to apply this term “mistake” to the geologic
setting of cities elsewhere: a subsiding New Orleans, an earthquake-prone San Francisco,
or a mudflow-prone Los Angeles. But many in the Red River Valley, while likewise
smugly criticizing the geologic settings of cities elsewhere, either ignore or are oblivious
to the hazards of their own setting. And this leads to a likewise smug expectation in the
Valley that engineering can resolve what problems do occur. Thus, taxpayers have
funneled tens of millions of dollars into the Red River Valley for mitigation of damages –
much of it wasted or expended unwisely on projects that often will only serve to increase
the propensity for flooding or geologic failure. In addition, developers are often
encouraged (or, at least, not discouraged) from building on those areas most prone to
problems; when problems do occur, those involved with this development are among the
first to call for mitigation and compensation."
I thought this was the perfect description of how most people in flood plains view their vulnerability to this devastating hazard and wanted to share it with you all.