Adaptation through Water 2025

Project brief: The Red River, whose basin spans the midwestern US states of North Dakota and Minnesota and Canada’s Manitoba province, has a long history of flooding. The Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Project, begun in 2007, is a major infrastructure initiative – and the first public-private partnership flood- control project in the US. It is designed to mitigate persistent flooding challenges and prevent catastrophic flooding in the metropolitan area encompassing Fargo, North Dakota and its neighbouring city, Moorhead, Minnesota. The project, targeted for completion in 2027, entails constructing a 30-mile (48-kilometre) diversion channel that will reroute the river’s floodwaters. In doing so, it will safeguard more than 235,000 residents and 70 square miles of urban infrastructure. The Metro Flood Diversion Authority, US Army Corps of Engineers and the Red River Valley Alliance (RRVA) have partnered with a private sector consortium led by ACCIONA, Shikun & Binui USA and the North American Construction Group in a 30-year agreement. The RRVA is responsible for financing, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining the channel and its associated infrastructure, including bridges, railway crossings and an aqueduct. The diversion channel and levee system feature a 22-mile temporary flood containment system that includes automated flood gates and embankments, pump stations and diversion infrastructure. In addition, 30 miles of natural floodplain will absorb overflow before a controlled release, while wetlands and upstream retention areas are designed to slow floodwaters during a release. Why is this case innovative? –The public-private partnership model has succeeded in securing the necessary capital and expertise for a large-scale infrastructure project, and is an effective way to ensure efficient delivery and long-term maintenance. –The model shifts flood protection from being a solely government-funded undertaking to a sustainable, private sector-backed solution, thereby reducing the burden on taxpayers. –The project combines hard infrastructure and natural flood management methods. How is this example relevant to Southeast Asia’s water adaptation challenges? –The project’s planning process has brought together local communities, businesses and government agencies to ensure that strategies are comprehensive and address the needs of all affected stakeholders. –The project’s engineered approaches – diversion channels, levees and water-retention basins – can protect urban and rural communities from the devastating effects of floodwaters. What opportunities does this illustrate for the private sector? –Businesses can assist with environmental impact assessments and regulatory compliance, as well as with implementing sustainable practices in flood mitigation. –Civil engineering and environmental services firms can provide innovative designs and technologies tailored to the unique hydrological challenges of a particular river. –Companies can participate in financing, constructing or operating flood-control projects to achieve sustainable returns. Source: Metro Flood Diversion Authority.21CASE STUDY 3 Fargo-Moorhead Diversion Project: combating chronic metro-area river flooding Adaptation through Water: Mobilizing the Private Sector for Climate Adaptation in Southeast Asia 21