The Red and Wild Rice Rivers Greenway Project

Cass County's objective is to establish a natural buffer a greenway adjacent to the Red and Wild rice Rivers to reduce flood damage and lessen government expenditures. This expanded floodway concept will provide for flood storage, wildlife habitat and undeveloped public green space as well as improve water quality. The greenway will created on property purchased by Cass County through a two-point-two million dollar Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant.

All land along the Red and Wild Rice Rivers, south of Fargo, is eligible for the project, with the FEMA grant funds. The funds will initially distributed on a prioritized basis. All remaining requests processed on a first-come, first serve basis. Landowners have until November 14 to submit their requests to be included on the priority list. That prioritized list will be available November 21.

A majority of the land eligible for purchase is not approved for development due to existing zoning and subdivision regulations. In accordance with the Stafford Act, Cass County will not develop any of the land purchased for its own use as part of this project, with the deed restrictions recorded at the time of the sale.

Floodplain zoning restrictions have historically become more restrictive as time goes on.

Land values are to be determined by a County-appointed appraiser, with 100 percent of the price paid to the landowner. Landowners retain the right to hire a second appraiser at their own expense for negotiation purposes. The County does not intend to use eminent domain to secure any of the land for this project.

This project is considered a viable option for flood damage reduction with or without the Southside Flood Protection Project. This project is limited to land acquisition, with no structures (including levees and dikes) allowed to be built on the acquired land.

How will the buffer help reduce flooding?
The purpose of the greenway is to ensure that the banks of the river remain in place and no future squeezing of the rivers occurs. Future encroachment of the banks on the rivers guarantees higher water levels and more susceptibility to future flooding.

While proven to be effective, greenways along a river are not common in the United States. The Cass County Greenway Project would be a model for other counties looking to reduce their susceptibility to flooding.

What will the greenway "natural buffer" accomplish?
1. The ultimate goal is to reduce flood damage and lessen future government expenditures.
2. The greenway will ensure the banks of the Red and Wild Rice Rivers remain in place, reducing potential river squeezing. Future bank encroachment guarantees higher water levels
3. The greenway will reduce the potential for riverbank slides.
4. The greenway will provide flood storage.
5. The greenway will create a natural wildlife habitat.
6. The greenway will improve water quality by reducing runoff into the river.
Who is eligible to receive payments from this grant?
1. All landowners in Cass County, south of Fargo, along the Red and Wild Rice Rivers.

How will division of the grant take place?
1. All interested landowners need to complete a landowners questionnaire. The survey is available by contacting Cass County Engineer Keith Berndt at 701-282-2226. Berndt can also be reached at Berndt@co.cass.nd.us .
2. Every landowner expressing interest prior to 5 p.m., November 14 will be prioritized based on size and location of their land.
3. Every landowner expressing interest after 5 p.m. November 14, will be placed on list in the order they submit their names to have his/her land appraised.
4. Grants will be offered on the appraised value stated by the County-appointed appraiser. Each landowner has the right to hire a second appraiser for negotiation purposes.
5. The two-point-two million dollar FEMA grant will not cover all the property eligible to receive the grant.