https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Public Works & Utilities


The Mouse River, with assets from Minot's project. Image courtesy of City of Minot.

Article

2020 Crown Communities winner: Phases 2 and 3 of Minot, N.D.’s Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan

2020 Crown Communities winner: Phases 2 and 3 of Minot, N.D.’s Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan

  • Written by Jason Axelrod
  • 2nd March 2021

Phases 2 and 3 of Minot, N.D.’s Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Plan involved numerous federal, state and local entities, several setbacks, years to complete and $40 million. But the result was a multi-faceted flooding defense that Minot was able to make its own.

Historic flooding of the Mouse River in June 2011 created the need for the project. Comparable flows hadn’t been seen since 1882, and the flooding caused over $690 million in building and content damages to over 4,700 structures in McHenry County, N.D., and Ward County, N.D.

Flood fighting measures were implemented, but the flood overwhelmed a lot of the measures. Local governments realized that a plan was needed to give direction and protect the Mouse River community during future events. The project was separated into three phases, as well as a stand alone flood mitigation project around the Minot water treatment plant.

Completing these phases was easier said than done, though. “During the flood, everybody showed up to help. After the [flood], everybody showed up with a rule book,” former Minot Director of Public Works Alan Walter said.

Many of the hurdles concerned federal permitting. The Souris River Joint Board (SRJB) — which includes members from four counties and Minot — had to get permission from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), as well as satisfy National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. The board also had to issue a request to the North Dakota State Water Commission for the project.

The federal permits and permissions took years to complete. However, advance construction of certain features of phases 2 and 3 were able to commence. A dog park and five acres of a municipal golf course were in the project’s construction area, so temporary accommodations were built to mitigate impact. A 27 acre stormwater retention facility was also built in the upper basin.

Meanwhile, designing phases 2 and 3 required Minot to coordinate with the Minot Park District, the Ward County Resource Board and the SJRB. The general public also gave input through open house presentations and social media.

Altogether, numerous moving parts were involved in this project. Construction of phases 2 and 3 began in Minot in May 2018 and cost $40 million. Funding came from Federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) dollars, funds through the National Disaster Resiliency competition, state cost share and local cost share. The local cost share came from a voter-approved sales tax and bonding.

Final completion occurred in October 2020. When the dust settled though, phases 2 and 3 contained a number of features:

  • Over 8,900 feet of earthen levee
  • Multiple levee ramps
  • Interior drainage pump stations
  • River crossings of municipal utilities
  • A removable road closure
  • 1,600 feet of bio-engineered stream bank restoration.

Additionally, Minot was able to weave the project’s flood risk reduction into its community’s social fabric. The city accomplished this with the following features:

  • A multi-use trail along the levee’s crest, with provisions for connectivity to future phases
  • Giving topographic diversity to a dog park affected by the construction
  • Redesigning the Perkett Ditch pump station (located on the edge of a residential neighborhood) to look like a home
  • Adding a pedestrian underpass on a bridge.

Minot Director of Public Works and SRJB Director Dan Jonasson, called the project, “an exemplary example of what can be accomplished when numerous… entities come together and collaborate to find solutions to funding, permitting, construction, operation and maintenance of critical flood control infrastructure, while also incorporating community amenities… to lessen the impact to the immediate residents.”

Click here to view all six winners of American City & County’s 2020 Crown Communities Awards.

Tags: News Public Works & Utilities Article

Most Recent


  • Amid spike, federal transportation department launches initiative to curb traffic-related deaths
    While stay-at-home orders might be a thing of the past, the pandemic’s impact is still felt daily through expectations to socially distance, the prevalence of masks in high risk areas like hospitals, and the stubbornly high annual rate of traffic-related deaths. Traffic fatalities hit a 16-year high in 2021, and preliminary data points to a […]
  • Report: Some public employees face financial hardship; comprehensive pay packages proved 'a pathway toward economic security'
    Many who work in public service, in professions that center around helping others, are themselves struggling to make ends meet and face financial hardship. Addressing these needs, the public employers they work for are well positioned to help them out, according to a report published Thursday by the MissionSquare Research Institute, “Examining the Financial Wellbeing […]
  • These 10 American cities are well prepared for a tech-based future
    From smart devices to electric vehicles, the success of technological advancements rely on municipal grids and infrastructure. Some cities are better equipped for the future than others. A new analysis from the tech company ProptechOS ranks the top 10 American cities best positioned for a “smart city future.” “But new technologies can only support us […]
  • Report: With increasing popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters, there's a need for 'safe and connected infrastructure'
    Electric scooters and e-bikes are rising in popularity. As transportation options diversify, local policymakers are beginning to integrate micromobility means as integral fixtures in transportation networks and climate action plans, given their health and climate benefits. But along with solutions, they’re also bringing with them a slew of hurdles. A report out of Oregon highlights […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • How local governments can improve bridge projects through strategic engagement
  • NLC releases State of Cities 2021 report
  • How local governments can get ahead of the infrastructure wave: Strategies to mitigate risk
  • Prioritizing rapid restore leads to stronger ransomware attack recovery

White papers


Modernizing government services for today’s resident expectations

24th January 2023

Preparing Your Community Now for the Next Generation of Older Adults

18th October 2022

Helping Government Fleets Achieve Their Goals

30th September 2022
view all

Webinars


How To: Evaluate Digital Government Service Delivery Technologies

23rd January 2023

Using Technology to Enhance Communications

29th November 2022

Learn the benefits of transforming and automating your Contract Management process

4th November 2022
view all

PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


These 10 American cities are well prepared for a tech-based future

1st February 2023

Report: While remote work is causing offices to empty out, walkable cities are still in high demand

26th January 2023

10 American cities with a great downtown

24th January 2023
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

Amid spike, federal transportation department launches initiative to curb traffic-related deaths dlvr.it/Shvs31

3rd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Engaging businesses to strengthen your community dlvr.it/ShvZn0

3rd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Report: Some public employees face financial hardship; comprehensive pay packages proved ‘a pathway toward economic… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

2nd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Strategic Budgeting for Modern Government dlvr.it/ShrHmD

2nd February 2023
AmerCityCounty

These 10 American cities are well prepared for a tech-based future dlvr.it/Shp7sH

1st February 2023
AmerCityCounty

How public health can build a “one health” infrastructure for the future dlvr.it/ShnlKm

1st February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Four Steps to Better Municipal Fleet Fuel Purchasing dlvr.it/ShnbWP

1st February 2023
AmerCityCounty

Report: With increase popularity of e-bikes and e-scooters, there’s a need for ‘safe and connected infrastructure’ dlvr.it/ShlKmJ

31st January 2023

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.