Comments Invited on Mouse River Flood Protection Scheme

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, is inviting comments on an addendum to the draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project in Ward County, North Dakota.

The multiphase project was developed to reduce flood risks within the Souris (Mouse) River basin in north-central North Dakota. The basin has a number of existing federally authorized flood risk reduction projects, collectively known as the Souris River Basin Project.

The Souris River Joint Water Resources Board submitted a request to the Corps to make alterations to the Souris River Basin Project, triggering review of the proposed alterations and the preparation of the draft EIS.

The Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project is a separate, yet parallel, effort from the Corps’ Souris River Basin Feasibility Study.

The Corps previously circulated a draft EIS for the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project to disclose the impacts associated with the proposed actions of the project and to invite public comment in December.

This addendum identifies potential changes the Souris River Joint Water Resources Board is considering to the project not discussed in the original draft EIS. These changes are based on the city of Minot’s proposed acquisition of properties outside of the original scope of the project.

The comment period will end April 28.