MINOT, N.D. (AP) The Army Corps of Engineers has released a draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Souris River flood protection project in Ward County and is accepting public comments through Dec. 22.
The Minot Daily News reported that the draft recommends a plan the Souris River Joint Board has proposed, which includes nearly 19 mi. (30.5 km) of new levees, nearly 3 mi. (4.8 km) of new floodwalls, two channel realignments totaling nearly 2 mi. (3.2 km), two high-flow bypass diversions, 21 transportation closure structures, the reconstruction or modification of six bridges and 121 acres of overbank excavation.
The draft said the estimated cost is $589 million to $1 billion.
The new features would accommodate flows up to 27,400 cu. ft. (775 cu m) per second, which is the estimated flow during a 2011 flood in Minot.
