Metro Flood Diversion Authority
The Metro Flood Diversion Authority is led by 13 board members from stakeholder entities.
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Meeting Agenda – April 22, 2021
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Meeting Agenda – March 25, 2021
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Meeting Agenda – February 25, 2021
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Special Meeting Agenda – February 11, 2021
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Meeting Agenda – January 28, 2021
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Special Meeting Agenda – January 19, 2021
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Meeting Minutes – March 25, 2021
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Meeting Minutes – February 25, 2021
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Special Meeting Minutes – February 11, 2021
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Meeting Minutes – January 28, 2021
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Special Meeting Minutes – January 19, 2021
- Metro Flood Diversion Authority Meeting Minutes – December 17, 2020
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Public Outreach Committee Meeting –…3:00 pm / 4:00 pm
Land Management Committee Meeting –…4:00 pm / 5:00 pm
Finance Committee Meeting – April…
- 2:00 pm
Public Outreach Committee Meeting – April 21, 2021
- 3:00 pm
Land Management Committee Meeting – April 21, 2021
- 4:00 pm
Finance Committee Meeting – April 21, 2021
Moorhead Clay County Joint Powers…3:30 pm / 4:30 pm
FM Diversion Board of Authority…
- 1:00 pm
Moorhead Clay County Joint Powers Authority Meeting – April 22, 2021
- 3:30 pm
FM Diversion Board of Authority Meeting – April 22, 2021
Executive Director
The Diversion Authority is led by 13 board members from stakeholder entities.
- Joel Paulsen was hired as the first Executive Director after a nation-wide search was conducted.
- Paulsen started on Sept. 3, 2019.
- He has almost 20 years of experience in engineering, civil works and traffic related projects.
- Previously, he was an engineer and Office Leader for Stantec Engineering. He has worked on projects from utility replacements, transportation improvements, levee systems, and community planning.
- Paulsen served on the Moorhead City Council and was appointed by Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton to the Governors’ Task Force in 2018. As a member of the Task Force, Paulsen was one of 16 local residents and experts asked to find solutions to achieve permanent flood protection for Fargo, Moorhead and the surrounding communities.
- Paulsen grew up in Moorhead, MN and received a Civil Engineering degree from North Dakota State University. He has a wife and four children.
The Diversion Authority has officially hired Joel Paulsen as the first Executive Director for the FM Area Diversion Project in August of 2019.
Paulsen is scheduled to begin on September 3, 2019. He was offered the position in late July after a unanimous vote from the Board.
- Licensed Professional Engineer
- Certified FEMA Floodplain Manager
- Certified Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Designer, University of Minnesota
- Minnesota Department of Transportation Certified Technician: Grading & Base
- National Society of Professional Engineers: Member in Minnesota
- Vice President of Engineers Without Borders: Red River Valley Professionals
- Marshall Memorial Fellow: German Marshall Fund (GMF) of the United States



Timeline
1998
Flood planning begins
Numerous city and county organizations begin meeting to find permanent solutions to the threat of flooding facing Fargo, Moorhead and surrounding communities.Â
2011
Limited JPA adopted
The group agreed to adopt a limited agreement that would outline how they worked together on flood protection efforts. The intent of this limited agreement was to guide the group until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers executed a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA).
2016
Full JPA adopted
Before the PPA was formally signed, suggested changes to the JPA were incorporated and a full JPA was signed by the participating parties. This continues to be the governing document that guides the FM Diversion Board of Authority. It also officially creates the entity that partners with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the FM Area Diversion Project.Â
Watch Board Meetings
Public Outreach Committee
The Public Outreach Committee oversees educational efforts, outreach materials and communication guidelines.
- Public Outreach Committee Meeting Agenda – April 21, 2021
- Public Outreach Committee Meeting Minutes – March 24,2021
- Public Outreach Committee Meeting Agenda – March 24, 2021
- Public Outreach Committee Meeting Minutes – February 24, 2021
- Public Outreach Committee Meeting Agenda – February 24, 2021
- Public Outreach Committee Meeting Minutes – January 27, 2021
- Public Outreach Committee Meeting Agenda – January 27, 2021
- Public Outreach Committee Meeting Minutes -December 16, 2020
- Public Outreach Committee – Agenda for December 16, 2020
- Diversion Authority Public Outreach Committee Meeting Minutes – November 18, 2020
- Public Outreach Committee – Agenda for November 18, 2020
- Diversion Authority Public Outreach Committee Meeting Minutes -October 21, 2020
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee oversees the budget, contract actions and financial components of the Project.
- Finance Committee Meeting Agenda – April 21, 2021
- Finance Committee Meeting Minutes – March 24, 2021
- Finance Committee Meeting Agenda – March 24, 2021
- Finance Committee Meeting Minutes – February 24, 2021
- Finance Committee Meeting Agenda – February 24, 2021
- Finance Committee Special Meeting Minutes – February 10, 2021
- Finance Committee Meeting Agenda – February 10, 2021
- Finance Committee Meeting Minutes – January 27, 2021
- Finance Committee Meeting Agenda -January 27, 2021
- Finance Committee Meeting Minutes – December 16, 2020
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee – Agenda for December 16, 2020
- Diversion Authority Finance Committee – Meeting Minutes from November 18, 2020
Land Management Committee
The Land Management Committee oversees land and property rights acquisition as well as management of parcels.
- Land Management Meeting Agenda – April 21, 2021
- Land Management Committee Meeting Minutes – March 24, 2021
- Land Management Meeting Agenda – March 24, 2021
- Land Management Committee Meeting Minutes – February 24, 2021
- Land Management Meeting Agenda – February 24, 2021
- Land Management Committee Meeting Minutes – January 27, 2021
- Land Management Committee Meeting Agenda – January 27, 2021
- Land Management Committee Special Meeting Minutes – January 7, 2021
- Land Management Committee Special Meeting Agenda and Packet – January 7, 2021
- Land Management Committee Meeting Minutes – December 16, 2020
- Diversion Authority Land Management Agenda and Packet – December 16, 2020
- Diversion Authority Land Management Committee Meeting Minutes – November 18, 2020
Agriculture Policy SubCommittee
The Agriculture Policy Subcommittee first met in 2012. The group focuses on agriculture-related issues and the Project.