Emergency Management Program Emergency Management Program Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Department of Sociology, Anthropology and

Emergency ManagementEmergency ManagementNorth Dakota State UniversityNorth Dakota State University

Red River Valley Flooding: A Historical Red River Valley Flooding: A Historical PerspectivePerspective

Micheal A. Kemp M.S.Micheal A. Kemp M.S.Micheal.Kemp@ndsu.eduMicheal.Kemp@ndsu.edu

Lake AgassizLake AgassizFilled 11,700 years agoFilled 11,700 years ago

Drained 9,200 years ago Drained 9,200 years ago

The Red River Valley extends over 315 miles from Lake Traverse in the south to Lake Winnipeg in the north. It is 60 miles wide at its widest point. The valley’s average slope is about one-half foot per

mile, sloping north to northeast.

Red River of the North

The elevation of the Red River falls 233 feet from its headwaters to its mouth; 545 river miles away.

Why does the Red River flood so Why does the Red River flood so

frequentlyfrequently • SYNCHRONY OF DISCHARGE WITH SPRING SYNCHRONY OF DISCHARGE WITH SPRING

THAWTHAW– The Red River flows northward. But, at the same The Red River flows northward. But, at the same

time, spring thaw proceeds steadily northward time, spring thaw proceeds steadily northward along the Valley. along the Valley.

• ICE JAMSICE JAMS– Ice derived from the southern Valley progressively Ice derived from the southern Valley progressively

meets with freshly-broken ice in the central and meets with freshly-broken ice in the central and northern Valley. Ice concentrations build retarding northern Valley. Ice concentrations build retarding or damming water flow.or damming water flow.

Why does the Red River flood so Why does the Red River flood so frequentlyfrequently

• DECREASE IN GRADIENT DOWNSTREAMDECREASE IN GRADIENT DOWNSTREAM– In Fargo-Halstad, the gradient of the Red River In Fargo-Halstad, the gradient of the Red River

averages 5 inches per mile of length. In the region of averages 5 inches per mile of length. In the region of Drayton-Pembina, however, the gradient drops to 1.5 Drayton-Pembina, however, the gradient drops to 1.5 inches per mile.inches per mile.

–

• GLACIAL LAKE PLAINGLACIAL LAKE PLAIN– The Red River is one of the flattest expanses of land The Red River is one of the flattest expanses of land

in the world. Therefore, when the river floods it in the world. Therefore, when the river floods it floods the entire plain.floods the entire plain.

– One of the youngest land forms on the continent.One of the youngest land forms on the continent.

• Major flood 1510 • Major flood 1538• Major flood 1658• Major flood 1658• Major flood 1682• Major flood 1726• Major flood 1727 • 1732 The first European explorer to reach the Red River• Major flood 1741• Major flood 1747• Major flood 1762• 1811-36 Selkirk settlement• 1812 Several Scottish families became the first

permanent settlers to farm in the Red River Valley

Red River Valley History

• 1803 River Valley portion of North Dakota and Minnesota became a part of the U.S.

• 1818 The Red River Valley below the 49 degree of North Latitude became a part of the U.S.

• 1820-1850’s - Red River Ox Carts• Major flood 1826—10 feet higher than 1997

•People move out of the area•15 people died

• 1858 Minnesota became a state• Major Flood 1856• 1859-1871 Steamboat Era• Major flood 1860

•Setback the rivers steamboat operations

Red River Valley History

Red River Valley History

• Major flood 1861

• 1860’s fur trading declined

• 1862 The Homestead Act-- Valley experienced a rush of pioneers who turned to wheat farming

• Major flood 1862

• 1868 The first official homestead in ND was made by Joseph Rolette in the northern Red River Valley

• 1871 Railroad Era

• 1871-1886 bonanza farm Era --population increased almost six-fold

• Major flood 1881

• 1889 North and South Dakota became states

Red River Valley History

• Major flood 1897— approximately the same flood level as 1997

•50,000 people left homeless •An area 30 miles wide and 150 miles long was

inundated•Railroads suffered severely from interruptions to

service and damage of the railroad beds• Major flood 1909• Major flood 1948• Major flood 1950 —11 feet higher than 1997

• All towns in the upper valley had to be evacuated

• 100,000 people evacuated• 10,000+ homes flooded in Winnipeg

• Major flood 1951• Major flood 1952

Red River Valley HistoryRed River Valley History

• 1960’s Dike system constructed (Fargo)

• Major flood 1969

• Major flood 1975

• Major flood 1989

• 1990 Eight storm sewer lift stations installed (Fargo)

• Major flood 1997

•$5 billion in damage

•2 million+ acres of prime wheat land under water

•The entire valley affected

• 1998 Removed 54 houses (Fargo).

• 2001 NFIP--325 policies worth $54,394,900 in effect (Fargo)

• Major flood 2001—3 ft less than 97 flood

• Major flood 2004—2 ft less than 97 flood

Can another flood like that of Can another flood like that of 1997 occur?1997 occur?

(1)40.10 ft on 04/07/1897(2) 39.57 ft on 04/17/1997

39.1 ft 500 year flood 38.2 ft 100 year flood(3) 37.80 ft on 04/11/1882(4) 37.34 ft on 04/15/1969(5) 37.18 ft on 04/05/2006(6) 36.69 ft on 04/14/2001(7) 35.39 ft on 04/09/1989(8) 34.93 ft on 04/19/1979(9) 34.65 ft on 04/16/1952(10) 34.41 ft on 04/02/1978

Fargo Flood levels

(

37.18 ft 2006

40.10 ft 1897

34.65 ft 1952

Downtown Fargo

2006 Best Smaller Metros for Business 2006 Best Smaller Metros for Business & Careers& Careers

____________________________________________________________

Rank State1 Sioux Falls, SD 2 Las Cruces, NM3 Fargo, ND

Metropolitan Area Population:1980: 137,5741990: 153,2962000: 174,3672005: 184,5782006: 187,000 –estimate

Source: Forbes Magazine, “Best Places for Business and Careers”, 2006 edition Source: Fast Company, “Fast Cities”, Issue 100, November 2005, Page 63

What has been done to prevent the same What has been done to prevent the same kind of destruction in another such flood?kind of destruction in another such flood?

Micheal KempMicheal Kemp Micheal.Kemp@ndsu.eduMicheal.Kemp@ndsu.edu

Emergency Management Program Emergency Management Program Department of Sociology, Department of Sociology,

Anthropology, and, Emergency Anthropology, and, Emergency ManagementManagement

North Dakota State UniversityNorth Dakota State University