Ongoing Efforts to Ensure Accessibility

We follow the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1 as our guiding principle for determining accessibility. These are internationally agreed-upon standards that cover a wide range of recommendations and best practices for making content useable. As we add new pages and functionality to our website, all designs, code, and content entry practices are checked against these standards.

Website accessibility is an ongoing process. We continually test content and features for WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliance and remediate any issues to ensure we meet or exceed the standards. Testing of our website is performed by our team members using industry-standard tools such as the Accessibility Checker WordPress Plugin, color contrast analyzers, keyboard-only navigation techniques, and Flesch-Kincaid readability tests.

Accessibility Features On Our Website

The following is a list of items we have included in our website to improve its accessibility:

• [LIST ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES HERE]

Where We’re Improving

In our efforts to bring our website up to standard, we are targeting the following areas:

• [LIST ITEMS YOU’RE WORKING TO FIX HERE]
• [IT MAY HELP TO REVIEW THE OPEN ISSUES TAB TO SEE THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS]

This is part of our broader effort to make everyone’s experience at [COMPANY NAME] a welcoming and enjoyable one. Please note that while we make every effort to provide information accessible for all users, we cannot guarantee the accessibility of third party websites to which we may link.

Accessibility Support Contact

We welcome comments, questions, and feedback on our website. If you are using assistive technologies and are having difficulty using our website, please email [YOUR ACCESSIBILITY EMAIL ADDRESS] or give us a call at [YOUR PHONE NUMBER]. We will do our best to assist you and resolve issues.

The post Our Commitment to Web Accessibility appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

ASN Constructors hosted the picnic lunch for employees working in the field at the various job sites along the 30-mile stormwater diversion channel at the conclusion of Construction Safety Week, May 6 through 10.   

Construction Safety Week aims to inspire everyone in the industry to be leaders in safety. Throughout the week, a new safety topic was highlighted each day to remind each person on the job, regardless of their role, that they have a deep responsibility to take initiative, accountability, and personal ownership in keeping their team and job site safe.

ASN Constructors has a proven track record of safety with the stormwater diversion channel construction project. Outstanding safety performance earned ASN the 2023 Safety Award – Municipal/Heavy Division from Associated General Contractors of North Dakota.

“Our mantra is that safety leads the way,” explains Ken Weber, health and safety director with ASN Constructors. “We work tirelessly to promote a culture of safety no matter your role with the organization. Everyone has someone or something to go home to and safety is at the forefront of everything we do at ASN Constructors.”

For more information about the FM Area Diversion project, visit www.fmdiversion.gov.

Media Contact
Tara Ekren, PIO
Red River Valley Alliance/ASN Constructors
701-306-3294 (cell)  |  pio@rrvafm.com

The post ASN Constructors Gives Back as Part of Construction Safety Week appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

With the extensive urban growth of Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo, it might be easy to lose sight of what put the Red River Valley on the map: farms and farmers with a mission to feed the world.

Since the 1800s, ag producers have weathered drought, wind, rain and disease. They’ve tilled and planted, nurtured seedlings, and harvested the fruits of their labor. We can’t risk damaging or losing this industry.

As the FM Area Diversion project works to tackle one of Mother Nature’s regular occurrences – flooding – we’re also working to protect those whose livelihood relies on not only hard work but the right mix from Mother Nature.

PROTECTING PRODUCERS

Each year, there’s about a 5% chance the FM Area Diversion will operate. When it does, water will back up in the upstream mitigation area. The area lies upstream of the Fargo-Moorhead area and, when gated structures close on the Red River and Wild Rice River, water will be held behind the 22-mile southern embankment.

The depth and the duration of the water stored in this area will depend on the flooding severity. During that timeframe, thousands of acres may experience more water than they normally would during a flood of that magnitude without the project.

When this happens, there’s a risk that farmers may be delayed in getting into their fields for spring planting. In the highly unlikely case of a late spring or early summer flood that may occur after planting, there could be direct crop damage.

To ensure farmers don’t need to worry about adverse impacts of flood protection, we have been working with Alex Offerdahl and Watts & Associates to develop no-cost crop insurance programs for producers in the upstream mitigation area. We sincerely appreciate those who have served on focus groups with Alex and helped pick holes in the programs so that we can refine and improve them. Their actions will help us provide the most complete coverage to mitigate risk.

REAPING RESILIENCE

Three key programs are being developed, two of which are focused solely on ag producers and the risks they may be exposed to during diversion operations.

Prevent-Plant Crop Insurance Program: If, as a result of diversion operations, producers are unable to plant crops by the established late-planting dates set by federal crop insurance, the MFDA-provided coverage will reimburse producers at the same coverage level that they purchased through federal crop insurance. The program also ensures that the actual production history, or APH, yield is not adversely affected if diversion operations result in a reduced yield.

Growing Season Supplemental Crop Loss Insurance: This program will cover 100% of any crop loss that may be experienced during the growing season in the unlikely event that a summer flood would require the FM Area Diversion to operate. It also will compensate organic producers for any contamination that could occur on their land.

Post-Operation Debris Removal and Cleanup: All land in the upstream mitigation area, whether used for agricultural purposes or not,will have debris removed and any damage to non-structural property repaired, remedied or restored after project operations conclude.

FOSTERING FAIRNESS

Through the years of discussions and planning, those who may experience negative impacts from the FM Area Diversion have been top of mind. Whether it’s ensuring fair buyouts and providing relocation assistance or providing our producers with the peace of mind that their livelihood will not be negatively impacted, my team and I will continue to work tirelessly to provide fairness and protection.

The post Sowing Seeds of Resilience for FM Area Producers appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

Contact
Tara Ekren, PIO
Red River Valley Alliance
701-306-3294 (cell)  |  pio@rrvafm.com

Construction to bring permanent, reliable flood protection to nearly 260,000 people in our area will impact Interstate 94 in West Fargo during the 2024 construction season. This spring, crews will begin work on bypass lanes for both westbound and eastbound traffic, which will be used to divert traffic during the construction of interstate crossings over the stormwater diversion channel.

The bypass lanes and construction of the crossings will occur between the Raymond Interchange/Exit 342 and the weigh station in the westbound lanes and from Mile Marker 341.8 to the Raymond Interchange/Exit 342 in the eastbound lanes.

Construction of the bypass lanes will necessitate single-lane closures on I-94 until they are completed.

Red River Valley Alliance and ASN Constructors are working to finalize traffic control plans for this work, with two options currently being evaluated.

Option 1 involves maintaining traffic on the Raymond Interchange westbound on-ramp and eastbound off-ramp as well as the weigh station entrance during construction of the bypass tie-ins. This option will likely increase the construction schedule by three to four weeks as well as create a confusing and potentially dangerous traffic flow scenario due to the complex traffic merging that will need to take place at the ramp tie-in locations.

Option 2 involves the closure of the Raymond Interchange westbound on-ramp and eastbound off-ramp as well as the weigh station entrance during construction of the bypass tie-ins for approximately one week. Detour routes for each ramp closure would be available. This option would expedite the construction schedule by three to four weeks in comparison to Option 1 and would significantly increase the safety of the traveling public by eliminating the potentially dangerous traffic merges noted in Option 1.

During the closure of the Raymond Interchange westbound on-ramp, traffic would be detoured one mile north to County Road 10, then two miles west to County Road 15, and one mile south to access I-94 at Exit 340. During the closure of the weigh station entrance, this facility will need to be closed as there are no alternate entrance points. During the closure of the Raymond Interchange eastbound off-ramp, traffic would need to exit I-94 two miles to the west at County Road 15/Exit 340. Please see the map at the end of this letter for detour routes.

We are seeking public input on the two options for construction. We invite you to share your input to help determine the best scenario for construction. Public input is encouraged via email to PIO@rrvafm.com. If you prefer, you can mail written comments to Public Information Officer, RRVA, 4816 Amber Valley Parkway S, Suite 100, Fargo, ND 58104. Public input will be accepted until February 23, 2024.

We appreciate your feedback.

The post P3 Seeks Public Input appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.

Construction Status Flood Insurance Status Property Acquisition Status

The post Project Status & Road Closures appeared first on Metro Flood Diversion Authority.