Minnesota DNR Issues Red River Diversion Permit

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has issued a permit that gives regulatory approval to the construction of the proposed Red River Diversion Project.  The project, initially sanctioned by the Army Corps of Engineers, had been held up in court, due to the DNR being unwilling to issue it's permit.  The DNR expressed concern about the amount of water that would be pooled on Minnesota land, and said it would not approve the project in current form.  The governors of North Dakota and Minnesota conducted a series of meetings, in early 2018, to discuss options with interested stakeholders in both states, and an alternate plan was drafted.  The DNR had stated that a decision on this Plan B would be issued before the end of 2018, and Fargo Mayor Tim Mahoney told WZFG Radio Thursday morning that he thought the decision would come in the next couple of hours.  The new plan pools more water in North Dakota, but authorities in Richland (ND) and Wilkin (MN) counties have indicated they will consider legal action against any plan that forces more water on to county land. Minnesota DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr said in a statement Thursday morning, "Plan B, with the conditions included in DNR's permit, represents a balanced approach to reducing the flood risk in an important metropolitan area while protecting public safety and the environment."  The decision means construction can resume immediately.  The cost of the project is expected to be approximately $2.75 billion.  Mahoney tells WZFG Radio that, barring further legal setbacks, that the project could be completed by the end of 2025.