Red River Diversion Included Among 2016 Corps Projects

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — Backers of a Red River diversion project around the flood-prone Fargo area say they're grateful that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is officially backing a plan that would combine public and private resources to build the channel.

The corps on Tuesday included the diversion among six projects slated to begin construction this year. It will receive $5 million that Congress appropriated for 2016, although it's not clear how that money will be used.

The diversion was previously authorized by Congress, but federal funding needs to be approved each year. Supporters were worried the arrangement could delay the project for years without a public-private partnership.

North Dakota Sens. Heidi Heitkamp and John Hoeven say Tuesday's announcement is important, but the project still needs to satisfy worries of upstream residents.