4th International Symposium on Flood Defence Toronto, Canada May 6, 2008

1. 1997 Red River of the North Flood 10 Years Later 4th International Symposium on Flood Defence Toronto, Canada May 6, 2008

2. PRESENTATION SUMMARY • Introduction • Overview (Mike Ryan) • Geography • Living with the Red (M. Clamen) • Conclusions and Recommendations • Accomplishment's • Improvements in Flood Forecasting (D. Luna) • Mitigation (Structural/non-structural/Policy/Legislation changes) • North of the Border • Manitoba (D. McNeil) • South of the Border • US Federal (J. DeHarnais) • US State (D. Frink) • Summary • What’s next? (M. Ryan) • Questions Introduction - Overview

3. WHERE IS THE RED RIVER OF THE NORTH? LAKE WINNIPEG WINNIPEG EMERSON GRANDFORKS EAST GRAND FORKS FARGO/MOORHEAD Introduction - Overview

4. Red River Basin Characteristics • Formed by glacial Lake Agassiz • Basin is characterized as glaciated plain with moraines, lakes, wetlands, and lake plains • Covers 45,000 mi2 (116,500 km2) • About 90% of area in US (40,000 mi2 or 103,600 km2) • River meanders northward for 551 mi (887 km) • The river path is nearly double the straight-line distance • Red River Floodplain • 60 mi wide (100 km) at the widest point Introduction - Overview

5. Red River Basin Characteristics • Basin remarkably flat • Drops 229 ft (69 m) over length • Average of 0.4 ft/mi (0.08 m/km) Introduction - Overview

6. Red River Flow Characteristics Daily flows • Maximum: 133,000 ft3/s (3,770 m3/s) April 26, 1997 • Mean: 4,050 ft3/s (155 m3/s) • Minimum: 0.9 ft3/s (0.0255 m3/s) February 2, 1937 Introduction - Overview

7. Red River Flooding in 1997 Introduction - Overview

8. Red River Flooding in 1997 Annual Maximum Peak Streamflow for Red River of the North at Grand Forks, ND Introduction - Overview

9. Red River Flooding in 1997What caused the flooding? • Substantial precipitation in fall of 1996 • Early freezing of saturated ground in fall of 1996 • Snowfall 300% or more of normal • Fargo…..117 in (297 cm) • Grand Forks…..98 in (249 cm) • Winnipeg…..90 in (228 cm) • Melt of Snow pack and thawing of ice began in late March • Melt inhibited by late-spring blizzard on April 5-6, 1997 • Wind-driven rain and sleet • Severe drop in temperatures • Winds to 70 mph (133 kph) • Up to 2 ft (0.6 m) of snow • Wind and ice toppled trees and power lines – no power for days Introduction - Overview

10. Red River Flooding in 1997Economic damages • Physical Damage/Costs • Estimates of 2 to 3 Billion Dollars Introduction - Overview

11. Red River Flooding in 1997Farms and Agricultural Lands Flooded • Inundated Land • US • 7,040 mi2 (18,200 km2) • Canada • 1,700 mi2 (4,400 km2) • Almost of 20% of basin inundated at some point Introduction - Overview

12. Red River Flooding in 1997 Transportation – Disrupted BRIDGES UNDERWATER STREETS AND ROADS FLOODED ROADS WASHED OUT Introduction - Overview

13. Red River Flooding in 1997Grand Forks flooded • Psychological Damage/Costs • There are damages resulting from major floods for which a monetary value cannot be determined • Often the psychological damages following a major flood are the most difficult to overcome and may remain long after the clean up and replacement effort Introduction - Overview

14. Red River Flooding in 1997Moving Forward • IJC recognizing that flooding will continue to impact the Red River basin • IJC recognizing the social/economic costs associated with flooding will continue to increase • Developed “Living with the Red” • 7 Conclusions • 28 Recommendations Introduction - Overview