Floodplain Mitigation
The two hazard maps below shows the areas that would be affected by flooding. The first, a map of the Grand Forks region showing the areas that would be effected by the100 hundred and 500 hundred year floods. The second is a map that shows severity of flood potential in the mid-west. Although floods will continue to occur in the future the city of Grand Forks has taken action in order to prevent the loss associated with the 1997 flood. In cooperation with federal, state and local governments, along with help form the communities businesses and its residents the town has put this plan into effect. This floodplain mitigation is designed to make sure that when another big flood, like the one 1997, does as little damage as possible.
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Hazard Map of Grand Forks, North Dakota area. Map shows areas that will
be effected by 100 and 500 year floods. Source: http://mapserver2.esri.com
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Hazard Map Showing the Snowmelt flood outlook. Source: http://www.rrbdin.org
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Grand Forks has gone under many changes since the flood of 1997. Most are in response to flood mitigation. Some buildings and homes have been rebuilt some torn down. Areas near the Red River have been changed into parks and empty lots. A new dyke system has been built in many areas in the city including the Lincoln area which was the first neighborhood flooded. The new dykes should protect against a flood like the 1997 flood.
An area downtown that was most severely effected by the flood has been turned into a town square. The old buildings were torn down and square built in it's place. It's an area that can host farmers markets and other functions. If flood waters should enter the downtown area the square will take on only minimal damage, unlike the buildings that once stood before.
In the Lincoln neighborhood 18 houses have been removed. In the place of the homes Lincoln Drive Memorial Park has been constructed. This area will be used for recreation and will take on minimal damage if flood waters flow over this area again.
Finally a statue has been erected in a memorial park. This is an important reminder not to forget the awesome power of a flood and that it will happen again.
