Fargo-Moorhead Metropolitan Area Flood Risk Management Project
Delivering resilient flood protection and infrastructure for the Red River Valley
Fargo Moorhead Floodway Authority and RRVA
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Fargo, North Dakota, USA
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2017 - Ongoing
North America’s Largest P3 water management project.
$2.75B flood diversion initiative protecting nearly 260,000 residents
First green bonds finance project in the United States designed for climate adaption.
30-mile flood diversion channel capable of passing more than 20,000 cubic feet of water per second.
Challenges
- The twin cities of Fargo in North Dakota and Moorhead in Minnesota have experienced seven severe floods in the last 20 years. A flood mitigation solution was required.
- The accelerated design schedule required significant design work for a 30-mile diversion channel to be completed within a two-year window.
- To execute this project successfully, critical utility relocations had to be navigated, including repositioning fiber-optic cables to accommodate deep excavation requirements.
- Unstable clay soil complicate excavation and structural foundations necessitating specialized approaches to maintain integrity.
- Subzero temperatures threaten the durability of construction materials through frost penetration reducing their structural reliability.
Solutions
- The twin cities of Fargo in North Dakota and Moorhead in Minnesota have experienced seven severe floods in the last 20 years. A flood mitigation solution was required.
- The accelerated design schedule required significant design work for a 30-mile diversion channel to be completed within a two-year window.
- To execute this project successfully, critical utility relocations had to be navigated, including repositioning fiber-optic cables to accommodate deep excavation requirements.
- Unstable clay soil complicate excavation and structural foundations necessitating specialized approaches to maintain integrity.
- Subzero temperatures threaten the durability of construction materials through frost penetration reducing their structural reliability.
Highlights
- The diversion channel will reduce the Red River’s height by 7 feet, safeguarding 260,000 residents from recurring flood disasters.
- Over 5,000 design drawings ensured seamless integration and conflict-free execution across all project components.
- The project replaces emergency flood measures with a reliable solution, giving residents peace of mind and a renewed relationship with the Red River.
- Read the full story here.
"Hatch (DJV) has been incredibly important to the success of this project. The timelines have been demanding, and the range of technical issues has been very diverse. They’ve successfully provided the right expertise at the right time through each phase of the project and have been very important to the delivery of a successful project."
Project numbers
- $2.75 billion total project cost.
- 30 miles of engineered stormwater diversion channel.
- Capable of passing more than 20,000 cubic feet of water per second.
- 11 county road crossings, 3 rail crossings, 2 aqueducts and 14 inlet structures.
- 5,000+ drawings generated for this project
- More than 100-year lifespan of flood protection infrastructure