82 BULLETIN 1017, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the laws of North Dakota, it should be done at the same time and 

 in cooperation with the floodway project. The floodway would 

 so relieve high-water flow in the Wild Rice below the intake that 

 little or no work on the channel would be necessary below this point. 

 The improvement of the Sheyenne channel below the outlet of the 

 floodway would necessarily be included as a part of the Red River 

 project. 



CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT IN EED RIVER. 



In considering possible methods for improving the channel of the 

 Red River, two may at once be discarded as impracticable, taken 

 either separately or in combination. These are cut-offs, and en- 

 largement of the present channel. The number of cut-offs to be 

 made, the great size of the excavated channel required, the depth 

 of cutting necessar}^, and the disposal of the immense quantities of 

 excavated material, require a scope of operations and present tech- 

 nical difficulties that would make the cost prohibitive. 



The most economical plan in this connection, and a very effective 

 one. is that of clearing the channel of the obstructions which greatly 

 retard the flow and are in a large measure responsible for overflow 

 during high-water periods. As previously noted, the channel 

 throughout its length is more or less obstructed by trees, brush and 

 undergrowth, artificial structures, refuse dumps, and debris of vari- 

 ous kinds. Along certain reaches the channel is almost completely 

 choked by trees with the exception of a narrow strip which serves 

 as a low-water channel and is kept open by the continuous flow 

 throughout the year. During high-water periods the entire channel 

 is necessary to carry the flow and, as a result of the obstructed con- 

 dition of the greater part of its cross-sectional area, the velocities are 

 so low that the water passes through the channel at a slower rate 

 than it is brought in by the tributaries. Such channel conditions 

 also tend to cause serious clogging by floating ice when it is present. 

 i It is recommended that from Wahpeton, N. Dak., to the Canadian 

 boundary, a distance of 394 miles along the river (see fig. 3, sheets 

 4 to 20, inclusive), the channel be cleared of all trees, brush, deadfall, 

 debris, and structures of all kinds except bridges, which seriously 

 interfere with the free flow of water. If possible the entire high- 

 water channel should be cleared. The channel, having once been 

 cleared, should be maintained permanently in good condition. This 

 can best be done by pasturing the channel, or using it for hay land. 

 It is not believed advisable to include under this project the removal 

 and rebuilding of all bridges which cause obstruction to flow, as 

 most of these are of wood and will not be serviceable for more than 

 a few years, after which they must be replaced or the crossings aban- 

 doned. In replacing present bridges and in constructing additional 



