Letter to Senators Barbara Boxer and David Vitter and Representatives Bill Shuster and Nick Rahall - Roseau Flood Control Project

Letter

U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), and Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) pushed for an increase in the authorized level of funding needed so that the Roseau flood control project may be completed should funding be provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The City of Roseau has secured funding for the non-federal share of the project, but without an increase in the authorization level the project will be delayed indefinitely.

In a letter to the members of Congress negotiating the final version of the water infrastructure bills, Sens. Klobuchar, Franken, and Rep. Peterson asked that the final bill include an authorization to increase the level of federal funding necessary to finish the project in Roseau.

In 2002, devastating flood waters inundated Roseau, destroying homes, businesses, and county and city buildings. The massive damage necessitated years of recovery to safeguard the community from further flood threats. Without this critical flood protection project, the city will remain vulnerable to another flood event.

"The City of Roseau has secured their local match requirements but without an increase in authorization this project will be delayed indefinitely...The project is around 75% complete, yet it will provide no protection to Roseau until it is finished, and the community continues to live in fear of another disaster," the members said in the letter. "We commend you for your commitment to passing strong water resources legislation. We urge you to give the Army Corps the authority to finish the Roseau River Flood Control Project."

You can read Sens. Klobuchar, Franken, and Rep. Peterson's letter below:

November 12, 2013

Dear Chairman Boxer, Chairman Shuster, Senator Vitter and Representative Rahall,

We are writing to request inclusion of the Roseau River Flood Control Project located in Roseau, MN in the final version of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013.

In June of 2002, the City of Roseau experienced a major flood that nearly wiped out the City. After receiving 12-15 inches of intense rainfall over three days, the Roseau River, which flows north, flooded its banks and its levee system. This region of the state is very flat and has relatively low elevation, which puts most of the City in the regulatory floodplain. When the River reached its banks, there was nothing to stop the flow of water and prevent the flooding. Only with the assistance from federal, state and local governments was the City able to get back on its feet.

The Roseau River Flood Control Project was authorized in the 2007 Water Resources Development Act and the City has worked diligently to secure all their local non-federal match requirements. Despite these efforts, the Army Corps of Engineers has not been able to keep up their end of the project and now budgetary delays have increased the cost of this project so much that an increase authorization level is needed. The project is around 75% complete, yet it will provide no protection to Roseau until it is finished, and the community continues to live in fear of another disaster.

As a delegation we have worked hard to secure funding for this project through Congressional Appropriations and annual budgetary requests. The City of Roseau has secured their local match requirements but without an increase in authorization this project will be delayed indefinitely. The federal government has already spent $19.7 million on this project, on top of the $42 million in recovery funds after the flood. Those numbers dwarf the small authorization change that is necessary to finish this project and provide this community the protection it needs.

We commend you for your commitment to passing strong water resources legislation. We urge you to give the Army Corps the authority to finish the Roseau River Flood Control Project.

Sincerely,

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