USACE: Public Input Invited on Souris River Study

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, and the Souris River Joint Water Resource Board, or SRJB, will host a series of public meetings this month to solicit public input on the scope of its U.S. Souris (Mouse) River Basin Feasibility Study.

The feasibility study is intended to identify and evaluate flood risk management alternatives for the Souris River Basin in North Dakota.

It is meant to provide an opportunity to holistically examine potential modifications to existing reservoirs, channels and levees and look at the potential for building structural or nonstructural measures.

This study is a separate yet parallel effort from that of the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project (Mouse River Plan) currently being pursued by the SRJB. The Corps’ feasibility study will determine federal participation in flood risk reduction activities for the basin.

Public input provided at these meetings will be used to define the scope of the feasibility study in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA. The Corps will develop an Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, as part of the feasibility study that is separate from the EIS being developed for the Mouse River Plan.

Input will also be used to formulate and evaluate proposed alternatives and determine potential impacts of the proposed alternatives.

The meetings will run from 7:30-9 p.m. with an open house from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

They will be held as follows:

• Oct. 24 – Mowell Lansford Sherwood School (Old Gym), 101 3rd Street NW, Mohall;
• Oct. 25 – Verendrye Electric, 615 Highway 52 W, Velva;
• Oct. 26 – Minot Municipal Auditorium, Room 201, 420 3rd Avenue SW, Minot.