Busy Day/Short Report J:

Word of the Day: Diversion. It was a historic day today as the Metro Flood Study Task Force unanimously approved a recommendation to all the area governing bodies to approve a North Dakota diversion for flood control for Fargo and Moorhead.  It was front page news today and it will be front page news tomorrow.  The project will be around $1 billion depending on the project that is finally constructed.  This has been a hotly discussed and debated in the Moorhead-Fargo area.  Moorhead Council members Nancy Otto, Dan Hunt, and Diane Wray Williams are on the Task Force along with Clay County Commissioners Kevin Campbell and Grant Weyland and Buffalo Watershed Board member Jerry Van Amburg from the Minnesota side.

Quote of the Day: Nancy Otto, “This is a historic moment, a first step toward making this important project (the diversion) happen.  We are in this together to protect our property and our citizens.” Nancy seconded the motion to approve the recommendation earlier today.

Pictures of the Day:

• Mayor Voxland was back from Washington D.C. today and participated in the 10 a.m. Moorhead Press Conference.
• Mayor Voxland, City Manager Redlinger, Congressman Collin Peterson’s Assistant Sharon Josephson, and Senator Amy Klobuchar’s Assistant Andy Martin talk outside of the Moorhead Press Room (aka, the old GoMoorhead Store J).
• One end of the table at the Metro Flood Study Work Group meeting-shown are Moorhead Council members Otto, Hunt, and Wray-Williams, Clay County Commission Chair and Metro Flood Group Co-Chair Kevin Campbell, and Fargo Commissioner and Metro Flood Group Co-Chair Mahoney.
• Moorhead Public Service Commissioner Kelli Poehls looks on as the Metro Flood Study Work Group deliberates.
• MPS Water Distribution Engineer Jared Heller stopped and watched the filling of a tube dike at 1309 South River Drive today.
• If you would like to see a few of the pictures we have collected we have a slideshow on the MPS website under the flood section; www.mpsutility.com or www.mpsutility.com/flood .

Mayor Mark Voxland Returns From Washington D.C.: Mayor Voxland returned from DC today.  He reported briefly on his visit and a thank you:

• The focus was on the Flood Diversion Project, updating the congressional delegation so there are no surprises when it begins to move.
• Work on the Presidential Declaration for the Flood of 2010.
• 20^th/21^st Street Underpass – important to the flood effort because 8^th Street is used up during the flood.
• Mayor Voxland reminded us to be vigilant and he gave the flood fighters a huge thank you.

Current River Level (and Current National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast):

• The current river level is 34.44 feet at 9:15 pm today (Thursday, March 18, 2010)
• The previous river level was 31.54 feet at 4:15 pm yesterday (Wednesday, March 17, 2010)

That’s My Story and I’m S-S-S-Stickin To It (NWS Forecast): Mark Ewens, from the NWS was at the 10 am Moorhead Press Conference today so we asked him to present the NWS forecast.  I heard Mike’s forecast at the EOC meeting and told Mike Redlinger Mark was in the audience.  Mark did a great job and explained the forecast in detail.  The forecast remains a range of 37-39 feet with a midpoint of 38.  Mark explained that the weather has been very favorable to us (i.e. no rain or snow) but that the cold temps coming won’t help us any – all the water is now in the main stem so the cold slowing down the water will not change the forecast.  I heard Greg Gust, also from the NWS, on KFGO just before noon with the same forecast.

Reminder – The New City of Moorhead Flood Website Has Great Information Daily: Check the new website out at www.cityofmoorhead.com/flood