Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 5 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
County plays role in reducing floods
Published 07:45 a.m., May 27, 2009
Officials in Otter Tail County may be asked to take steps that would lessen the affect the county’s water has in a flooding Red River Valley.
County Highway Engineer Rick West and Coordinator Larry Krohn attended a meeting Tuesday morning in Breckenridge with area officials to discuss long-term solutions to the flooding in the Red River Valley. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and several state representatives also attended the meeting.
West told Otter Tail County commissioners Tuesday afternoon he anticipates the county being included in the solution to the flooding because it is viewed as a contributor to the flooding. Otter Tail County’s water runs west to the Red River Valley. Commissioner John Lindquist noted that 60 percent of the county’s water stays in the county while 40 percent travels west.
At the Breckenridge meeting, the solutions discussed included creating a diversion channel in Minnesota or retaining water in areas on farmland. West noted that he believes a solution will implemented due to the multiple agencies focusing on the issue. The idea of creating a Red River Valley watershed district to oversee the solution was also suggested during the meeting, West said.
During Tuesday afternoon’s county board meeting, Commissioner Lee Rogness wondered what action county staff could take to be part of the solution. Calling the Otter Tail River “tamable,” Rogness suggested the county consider slowing down the water flow using the dams.
“How can we use those assets to virtually shut off the consequences of our water going west?” Rogness asked.
A suggestion made at the Breckenridge meeting was to place restrictions in Otter Tail County’s ditch system that could slow the water flow. When the thaw occurs in the spring, it runs without restrictions, West said.
However, Commissioner Doug Huebsch cautioned that keeping the water restricted too much in Otter Tail County could cause flooding problems locally. He pointed to several examples of flooding problems in the county this spring.
County Attorney David Hauser pointed out that there is a limit to how much water the county could retain before homes and farms are flooded.
Also suggested at the Breckenridge meeting was to create a watershed district in Otter Tail County that would include the Otter Tail River and the lake areas, West said.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post. To post a comment you will need to register. Or, if you're already registered but have not included your true, verifiable identity with your registration, you will need to update your account to include your identity. Effective Dec. 1, 2009, all posts appear with the commenter's true identity, which must be verified by site staff. Those who registered prior to Dec. 1, 2009, should be aware that once you update your information with your true identity, all prior posts under your user name will also indicate your true identity. If you do not wish to link yourself to prior comments, you should register again with a different user name.Posted by cascade (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Unfortunately doctipster, thats how many land owners view water on their land - just like a toilet - out of sight, out of mind.
Posted by rodentboy (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
build on a flood plain you are going to get flooded.
Posted by dwkrissy (anonymous) on May 27, 2009 at 6:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, Mr. West hold yet another meeting and continue to DO NOTHING!! Someone who actually does something to help the people in Ottertail County needs to take your job away from you!! What about the water problem by Lake Olaf?? Meeting after meeting is not going to take the problem away...take the blinders off and fix one problem at a time..before more people lose their homes or get fed up and just walk away!!
Posted by Blitzen (anonymous) on May 28, 2009 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I found Mr. West to be quite helpful with our water issues on North and South Turtle. Professional, polite, and honest.
It's not just the county involved when water is moved. The DNR is part of it, the US Fish and Wildlife has input, and the Army Corp of Engineers also has a say. Then you may have private citizens down stream that may have issues with the plan. All that needs to be addressed.
It is true that it took several years to accomplish a final soloution, but I never - EVER - thought they had blinders on. It took a lot of work, from citizens and county folks, to get accomplished. Some plans had to be changed or outright scrapped along the way - but Rick was always willing to listen and help out any way he could.
I think it rather unfair that he is catching heat on this. Old maps from the 1920's show many basins at the levels they are now, or even higher. This was before a lot of the current infrastructure was in place. The dust bowl drove water levels way down, and they stayed low for 30-40 years. In that time a lot of roads and homes were built. Once the wet cycle started in the 80's it became apparent that the water could and would get high again.
Simply replacing a county engineer is not going to solve this problem(s).
Posted by dwkrissy (anonymous) on May 30, 2009 at 7:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
blitzen~~
happy to hear that your issues were solved on north and south turtle lakes but were YOUR or YOUR neighbors houses FLOODED...these people by Lake Olaf don't have the luxury of YEARS for this problem to be accomplished...if you haven't taken a look out in that direction...maybe you should remove your blinders as well and take a road trip!! 100 year geologicals have been pulled and according to them there shouldn't be water where there is water now. So what is your suggestion to this?? Also, if replacing an engineer who has the ability to make things happen isn't the solution what is?? Another meeting??
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)
You may also register to comment in our forums at www.fergusfeedback.com.