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



overflow conditions, especially along the Reel River. The danger of 

 overflows makes the farming of large areas impossible or hazardous ; 

 also it interferes with urban activities and with transportation. 

 These unfavorable conditions can be eliminated by carrying out the 

 improvements as recommended. 



The organization of these projects will require considerable time. 

 Delays increase the probability that additional damage will be caused 

 by floods. It is desirable therefore that action which will result in 

 permanent organizations be started as early as may be possible. Co- 

 ordinated effort on the part of the interested States and the Federal 

 Government in the collection of data in regard to precipitation and 

 run-off in the three States will result in securing much information 

 of value for preparing detail plans for the work and for operation 

 after the improvements are completed. 



RECOMMENDED INTERSTATE PROJECTS. 



Two interstate projects are recommended, each to be handled either 

 by an executive board made up of district officials from each State or 

 else a commission appointed for the purpose which would have full 

 authority. 



The tri-State Lake Traverse-Bois de Sioux project would include 

 land in six counties, as follows : Roberts County, S. Dak. ; Richland 

 and Cass Counties, N. Dak. ; and Traverse, Wilkins, and Clay 

 Counties, Minn. The Red River project would include land in 12 

 counties, viz, Wilkin, Clay, Norman, Polk, Marshall, and Kittson 

 Counties, Minn.; and Richland, Cass, Traill, Grand Forks, Walsh, 

 and Pembina Counties, N. Dak. It is recommended that the two 

 projects include all the territory along Lake Traverse, Bois de Sioux, 

 and the Red River. 



In controlling run-off and stream-flow various interests such as 

 land drainage, flood prevention, water power, navigation, and others 

 sometimes overlap and conflict. In the two projects proposed herein 

 no serious conflict is foreseen. Should any question as to priority of 

 interest develop it is believed that land drainage and flood prevention 

 will be recognized as of much greater importance than any other in- 

 terests here involved. 



BENEFITS AND COSTS. 



Damages from floods and lack of drainage on large areas can only 

 be approximated. It is conceded generally that large losses from 

 these causes have been sustained in the Red River Valley. Accord- 

 ing to conservative estimates the loss due to the 1897 flood alone was 

 over $7,000,000. As the value and amount of property in the valley 

 is constantly increasing the clanger of much greater losses from floods 

 and lack of drainage is increasing also. At present a flood equal 



