Land Acquisition Process & Schedule
Find out what property rights are needed for the project and get updates on the MFDA’s process for land acquisition. Not sure if your land is needed? Use our interactive land map and search your property by address or parcel number.
What Happens When Land is Needed
- The project designer earmarks land
Project design engineers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers inform the program management consultant (PMC), MFDA director of lands and compliance and lands program manager when property rights need to be acquired for the project. This could be for a flowage easement or total acquisition due to the project’s path.
- MFDA Finance Committee review
The MFDA Finance Committee then reviews the proposed property rights to be acquired, along with the budget. If approved, the MFDA Finance Committee issues a Land Acquisition Directive to one of the acquiring agencies: The Cass County Joint Water Resource District (CCJWRD) in North Dakota or the Moorhead Clay County Joint Powers Authority (MCCJPA) in Minnesota.
- Land agents contact owners
Independent land agents, who are contracted with CCJWRD or MCCJPA, make initial contact with property owners and serve as the point of contact to guide property owners through the acquisition and relocation process. Contact a Land Agent
Land Acquisition & Purchase Process
- Getting Just Compensation
An independent, licensed appraiser assesses the value of property rights and submits the appraisal for review to ensure consistent methodology, quality assurance and appraisal standard conformance. An appraisal report, along with a proposed offer of just compensation, is approved by the relevant acquiring agency (CCJWRD or MCCJPA) and then submitted by the land agent to the property owner.
- Relocation & Re-establishment Benefits
If the property rights require the acquisition of a residence or a commercial property, relocation benefits will be available for displaced residents or business owners who need to re-establish their companies.
- Negotiations & Final Agreement
Land agents will present purchase agreements to the property owners for review and consideration. They are the point of contact for questions and negotiations. When the owner accepts the offer, the agreement is signed and a closing date is set.
For questions specific to your property, contact a land agent.
Land Acquisition Schedule
Get an estimate of when property will be acquired for different stages of project construction. View the dates below or download the Property Acquisition Schedule Map.
| Project Component | Acquisition Schedule |
| I-29 Road Raise | Property rights have been obtained |
| Red River Structure | Property rights have been obtained |
| Southern Embankment Reach 1 | Property rights have been obtained |
| Southern Embankment Reach 2A | Property rights have been obtained |
| Southern Embankment Reach 2B | Property rights have been obtained |
| Southern Embankment Reach 3 | Property rights have been obtained |
| Southern Embankment Reach 4 | Property rights have been obtained |
| Southern Embankment Reach 5 | Property rights have been obtained |
| Upstream Mitigation Area |
|
| Drain 27 Wetland Restoration | Property rights have been obtained |
| Stormwater Diversion Channel and Associated Infrastructure | Property rights have been obtained |
| OHB | Property rights have been obtained |
| Sheyenne Benching Project | August 2024-August 2025 |
| Christine Mitigation | February 2024-December 2026 |
| Wolverton Mitigation | April 2024-March 2025 |
Questions About Land Acquisition Process?
For more information about the lands management process, see our FAQs. For questions specific to your property, contact your land agent.