Minot, N.D., Faces Worst Flooding in History

Minot, N.D., is bracing for the worst flooding in its history as both Canadian and U.S. flood control dams release ever increasing amounts of water into the swollen Souris River. The current Minot flood projection from the National Weather Service asserts that the crest, expected on Sunday, will be at least five feet higher than the previous record and 14 feet over flood stage.

The Souris River's course takes it southeast out of Canada and then turns north again and flows back into Canada. Minot is the largest community in the river's basin, with the Souris flowing a winding course through the entire city. The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the region, emphasizing, "FLOOD PROTECTIVE MEASURES IN MANY AREAS ARE LIKELY TO BE OVERWHELMED BY LATE IN THE WEEK."

The Army Corps of Engineers completed a major levee construction project in the Minot area in 1979. Local and state authorities, working with the Corps, raised levee heights, built emergency levees and performed other work intended to prevent major flooding earlier this spring. Despite that work, the City of Minot expects levees to be overtopped or breeched and has ordered a mandatory evacuation of much of the city. River flows are expected to be three times the flows experienced in the flooding earlier in 2011, according to the Minot Daily News.

Saskatchewan Watershed Authority operates three dams upstream from Minot. The Rafferty and Boundary dams are increasing their release of flood waters as their reservoirs are approaching capacity. The Alameda continues current discharges but may have to increase them as conditions warrant.

In the United States, a series of structures maintain the water levels in critical marshes along the Souris, including the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge. The Lake Darling Dam is part of that refuge. It is also discharging water at an increased rate.

The planned Minot and Ward County evacuation will affect about 10,000 people, reports KMOT. Everyone must be out by 10 p.m. Wednesday. The Montana-Dakota Utilities Company is going door to door in Minot shutting off every natural gas service in the evacuation zone. About 150 troops from the North Dakota National Guard are in the area assisting state and local authorities.