1. Emergency Management Program Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Emergency Management North Dakota State University Red River Valley Flooding: A Historical Perspective Micheal A. Kemp M.S. Micheal.Kemp@ndsu.edu

2. Lake Agassiz Filled 11,700 years ago Drained 9,200 years ago

3. The Red River Valley extends over 315 miles from Lake Traverse in the south to Lake Winnipeg in the north. It is 60 miles wide at its widest point. The valley’s average slope is about one-half foot per mile, sloping north to northeast.

4. Red River of the North The elevation of the Red River falls 233 feet from its headwaters to its mouth; 545 river miles away.

5. Why does the Red River flood so frequently SYNCHRONY OF DISCHARGE WITH SPRING THAW SYNCHRONY OF DISCHARGE WITH SPRING THAW – The Red River flows northward. But, at the same time, spring thaw proceeds steadily northward along the Valley. ICE JAMS ICE JAMS – Ice derived from the southern Valley progressively meets with freshly-broken ice in the central and northern Valley. Ice concentrations build retarding or damming water flow.

6. Why does the Red River flood so frequently DECREASE IN GRADIENT DOWNSTREAM DECREASE IN GRADIENT DOWNSTREAM – In Fargo-Halstad, the gradient of the Red River averages 5 inches per mile of length. In the region of Drayton-Pembina, however, the gradient drops to 1.5 inches per mile. – GLACIAL LAKE PLAIN GLACIAL LAKE PLAIN – The Red River is one of the flattest expanses of land in the world. Therefore, when the river floods it floods the entire plain. – One of the youngest land forms on the continent.

7. Major flood 1510 Major flood 1538 Major flood 1658 Major flood 1682 Major flood 1726 Major flood 1727 1732 The first European explorer to reach the Red River Major flood 1741 Major flood 1747 Major flood 1762 1811-36 Selkirk settlement 1812 Several Scottish families became the first permanent settlers to farm in the Red River Valley Red River Valley History

8. 1803 River Valley portion of North Dakota and Minnesota became a part of the U.S. 1818 The Red River Valley below the 49 degree of North Latitude became a part of the U.S. 1820-1850’s - Red River Ox Carts Major flood 1826—10 feet higher than 1997 People move out of the area 15 people died 1858 Minnesota became a state Major Flood 1856 1859-1871 Steamboat Era Major flood 1860 Setback the rivers steamboat operations Red River Valley History

9. Major flood 1861 1860’s fur trading declined 1862 The Homestead Act-- Valley experienced a rush of pioneers who turned to wheat farming Major flood 1862 1868 The first official homestead in ND was made by Joseph Rolette in the northern Red River Valley 1871 Railroad Era 1871-1886 bonanza farm Era --population increased almost six-fold Major flood 1881 1889 North and South Dakota became states

10. Red River Valley History Major flood 1897— approximately the same flood level as 1997 50,000 people left homeless An area 30 miles wide and 150 miles long was inundated Railroads suffered severely from interruptions to service and damage of the railroad beds Major flood 1909 Major flood 1948 Major flood 1950 —11 feet higher than 1997 All towns in the upper valley had to be evacuated 100,000 people evacuated 10,000+ homes flooded in Winnipeg Major flood 1951 Major flood 1952

11. Red River Valley History 1960’s Dike system constructed (Fargo) Major flood 1969 Major flood 1975 Major flood 1989 1990 Eight storm sewer lift stations installed (Fargo) Major flood 1997 $5 billion in damage 2 million+ acres of prime wheat land under water The entire valley affected 1998 Removed 54 houses (Fargo). 2001 NFIP--325 policies worth $54,394,900 in effect (Fargo) Major flood 2001—3 ft less than 97 flood Major flood 2004—2 ft less than 97 flood

12. Can another flood like that of 1997 occur?

13. (1)40.10 ft on 04/07/1897 (2) 39.57 ft on 04/17/1997 39.1 ft 500 year flood 38.2 ft 100 year flood (3) 37.80 ft on 04/11/1882 (4) 37.34 ft on 04/15/1969 (5) 37.18 ft on 04/05/2006 (6) 36.69 ft on 04/14/2001 (7) 35.39 ft on 04/09/1989 (8) 34.93 ft on 04/19/1979 (9) 34.65 ft on 04/16/1952 (10) 34.41 ft on 04/02/1978 Fargo Flood levels

14. ( 37.18 ft 2006 40.10 ft 1897 34.65 ft 1952 Downtown Fargo

15. 2006 Best Smaller Metros for Business & Careers 2006 Best Smaller Metros for Business & Careers ____________________________________________________________ Rank State 1 Sioux Falls, SD 2 Las Cruces, NM 3 Fargo, ND Metropolitan Area Population: 1980: 137,574 1990: 153,296 2000: 174,367 2005: 184,578 2006: 187,000 –estimate Source: Forbes Magazine, “Best Places for Business and Careers”, 2006 edition Source: Fast Company, “Fast Cities”, Issue 100, November 2005, Page 63

18. What has been done to prevent the same kind of destruction in another such flood?

19. Micheal Kemp Micheal.Kemp@ndsu.edu Emergency Management Program Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and, Emergency Management North Dakota State University