Upstream Residents Give Thumbs Down To Oxbow Area Dike

Residents of Oxbow, Hickson and Bakke Subdivision have had their first close look at a plan first floated by Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker on KFGO last week to build a major levee around their homes and they don't like it.

 

 

 

 

Residents of Oxbow, Hickson and Bakke Subdivision have had their first close look at a plan first floated by Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker on KFGO last week to build a major levee around their homes and they don't like it. The ring dike would protect the small communities from being flooded out by the Red River Diversion Project.

Bakke resident Dennis Biewer organized the informal gathering at the request of Cass County Adminstrator Keith Berndt and the Army Corps of Engineers who were looking for some feedback. Biewer says safety of those behind the 10 to 12 feet high levee is the biggest concern.

He says should the dike break during a flood, there wouldn't be time to evacuate and there could be lives lost.

Berndt said he's surprised by the response and also said if the dike is built, the towns would be the best protected in the Red River Valley. He promises project backers will have more dialogue with the three communities so they can make an informed decision.

(Photo: KFGO File)

 

Don Haney

   

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