FARGO, N.D. (KFGO) – Due to the unusual amount of rain and snow this time of year, multiple rivers are expected to crest above flood levels this week. Cass County Engineer, Jason Benson, says the Sheyenne River at Harwood is expected to crest at 90 feet, 1.5 ft. below the crest in the spring this year. The Sheyenne River will crest at Kindred at 19 ft and the Maple River in Mapleton will crest Monday at 21.1 feet.
Benson tells KFGO news some rural roads are already soft and are even more susceptible to washout now than they are in the spring because the roads are typically frozen. He says residents of rural Cass County need to take precautions to ensure they don’t get stranded.
The Red River in Fargo is on a slow rise and expected to crest sometime mid-day Tuesday at 23 ft., 5 ft. over flood stage which is still considered minor flooding but unusual for this time of year.
City Public Works Supervisor Lee Anderson says the rise is “manageable” but has required some action along the river.
He says Friday night and Saturday, city crews were plowing snow and Sunday, public works closed half dozen river gates and activate pumps.
Those gate structures that have been shut drain the water run-off from storm sewers into the Red River. Any additional run-off now has to be pumped into the river.
Anyone with questions about flooding can go to www.casscountynd.gov or call the Flood Hotline 701-241-8000.
(By Tom Jennings and Don Haney)
