The flooding of the Souris River in 2011 was unavoidable, due to the circumstances, but plans are being made to hopefully avoid a repeat this coming year, said Premier Brad Wall at a joint news conference with Environment minister Dustin Duncan, Nort
The flooding of the Souris River in 2011 was unavoidable, due to the circumstances, but plans are being made to hopefully avoid a repeat this coming year, said Premier Brad Wall at a joint news conference with Environment minister Dustin Duncan, North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple, and U.S. Senator John Hoeven on Feb. 3.
"The flooding we saw on the Souris River was an unprecedented event," said premier, noting that of the volume of water which has flowed through the Souris over the last century, 25 per cent flowed last year.
Wall noted the recovery is still ongoing for some people in regards to those who had to leave their homes, or farmers who had huge amounts of farmland flooded out.
"For the past few months, we've been looking at what we can do to lessen the damage" in the coming year, said Premier Wall, adding that Rafferty and Alameda dams both sit at about one metre below full depth right now.
With the province experiencing a 1-in-500-year event with the flooding, the premier and the North Dakota representatives agreed that the current agreement - signed in 1989 - may need to be revised some to address newer concerns "with common sense and good-will."
After the bilateral meeting held between the province and the state on Friday, Premier Wall said the operating plan needs to be expanded with a management strategy, and the parties will need the cooperation of the federal government and Environment Canada in particular.
The two governments spoke also of having better communications, such when a major rain hits the river north of the border or when there is a heavy snowpack in place, so officials in North Dakota know to prepare for the increased flow of water.
One matter that hasn't been decided yet is whether there is a need for another dam to be built, either in the Long Creek area north of the border, or in North Dakota south of the border.
Reviews are being carried out on the Rafferty and Alameda dams, meanwhile, and Wall said so far Alameda has passed, with a report pending yet on the Rafferty dam. He said they're expecing this to be a positive report, and it should be out in a week or so.
"On our side, we want Alameda amd Rafferty to continue to the job they've been designed to do," added Premier Wall. "We have already lowered levels at the Rafferty and Alameda reservoirs in preparation for spring runoff, and we will lower them further, if necessary."
