OVERFLOW OF RED RIVER OF THE NORTH. 11 



Plate II, figure 1, show some of the bridges and typical low-water 

 conditions which prevail during several months each year. 



The Bois de Sioux Kiver never has been used for water transpor- 

 tation. The fact that it is not a navigable stream is officially stated 

 in the report of a preliminary examination of Traverse and Big- 

 stone Lakes by the Corps of Engineers, United States Army (see 

 House Doc. No. 199, 65th Cong.). Lake Traverse is navigable for a 

 distance of about 12 miles between grain elevators of Diamond, S. 

 Dak., and Browns Valley, Minn., and boats operate between these 

 points (see PI. II, fig. 2). The only tributary stream on which 

 commercial navigation reached important proportions is Red Lake 

 River, including Red Lake. Transportation on this waterway con- 

 sisted mainly of log-running and a small amount of freight and 

 passenger service. This traffic decreased with the decline of logging 

 operations and at present has practically ceased. 



SURVEYS AND OTHER INVESTIGATIONS. 



The surveys and other investigations by the Bureau of Public 

 Roads were conducted with the constant aim of obtaining as com- 

 prehensive an understanding as possible of all factors that now, or 

 that may in the future, affect the drainage and flood situation in the 

 Red River Valley. This necessitated a thorough study of past and 

 probable future precipitation and run-off, and the other influencing 

 factors. Flood condition^ were studied with respect to causes, 

 magnitude, extent of damage, probable recurrence, and methods of 

 control and prevention. The possibilities of reclaiming and improv- 

 ing the wet and flood-affected lands were given careful considera- 

 tion as were also the general efficiency of existing drainage systems 

 and the question of further development of local drainage. Various 

 plans for improving drainage in general and for the control and 

 prevention of floods were studied with a view to selecting the most 

 practicable and advantageous combinations applicable in this water- 

 shed. Suggestions in regard to the form of organization best adapted 

 to carrying on the work are made in the following pages. 



The measures recommended are of two classes — those the char- 

 acter or design of which is affected by the run-off from territory 

 lying in more than one State, and those designed to remedy evils re- 

 sulting from local conditions only. 



The work in the field was begun in September, 1918, and was con- 

 tinued for practically one year. It was the original intention to 

 make a detailed survey only of the Bois de Sioux-Lake Traverse 

 region, depending on records of former surveys for data concerning 

 the remainder of the valley; but as the work progressed it became 

 apparent that in order to obtain sufficient information to permit an 

 intelligent study of the project, field work would be necessary along 

 the Red River as far north as the international boundary. 



V 



