Central ND News

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong attended an event today marking the rerouting of the Red River through a new control structure, a key part of the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion Project. The state has invested $850 million in the $3.2 billion project, which aims to protect Fargo-Moorhead and surrounding communities from major flooding.

“This is truly historic, not only for Fargo-Moorhead but the entire state of North Dakota,” Armstrong said. “Not since the opening of Garrison Dam in 1953 has a river of this size been intentionally rerouted through a manmade structure in North Dakota. What is happening here today is beyond impressive, moving our state’s largest metro area one giant step closer to a more secure and prosperous future.”

Armstrong expressed gratitude to North Dakota lawmakers for approving significant funding and noted his own longstanding support for the diversion as a legislator and governor. He also recognized collaboration among over 50 organizations—including 30 government agencies at various levels—in bringing the project forward. The initiative is notable as it represents both the first public-private partnership (P3) flood management effort in North America and the first P3 civil works project with participation from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Originally, officials had planned to remove plugs from berms that were blocking water from entering the new channel, but heavy rain earlier this week caused water to flow over naturally. During today's event, officials opened gates on the Red River Structure to officially redirect river flow into the channel.

The 30-mile diversion project is expected to be completed by 2027 and will provide protection against severe flooding for more than 260,000 residents in the metro area.