2 BULLETIN 1017, IT. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
of the valley ; and in 1906 an international drainage conference was 
held at Grand Forks, X. Dak., which was attended by delegates named 
by the governors of the three States in which the valley is situated 
and by delegates, from Manitoba, Canada. Various plans for obtain- 
ing relief from floods and poor drainage conditions have been studied 
and much time and money have been expended on them. A list of Fed- 
eral investigations up to 1915 is contained in House Document No. 
1666, Sixt}- -third Congress, third session. Aside from the Federal in- 
vestigations, numerous State and local organizations have from time 
to time taken action under the State laws. Some of the projects have 
led to considerable legal contention. In addition to the fact that any 
project affecting this watercourse requires the joint action of the three 
States involved, the official designation of Lake Traverse and the 'Red 
River as navigable waterways makes it necessary that any plans for 
improvement that might affect the regimen of those waterways shall 
receive the approval of the Secretary of War. 
The attention of the Bureau of Public Roads was first called to the 
project in August, 1916. In October, 1916, the bureau agreed to 
make a preliminary examination of the project provided the inter- 
ested landowners should raise a fund to be used for paying certain 
incidental expenses. In the summer of 1918 a fund of $2,300 was 
provided by eight county boards. This fund was raised largely 
through the efforts of Mr. Herbert A. Hard, of the North Dakota 
Flood Control Commission. 
Field work on the project was begun in September, 1918, and was 
completed in April, 1920. P. T. Simons, senior drainage engineer, 
was placed in charge of the project. He was assisted in the field by 
B. S. Clayton. Dan S. Helmrek, and F. V. King, all -drainage engi- 
neers of the bureau, and by Paul Funderhide, drainage assistant. 
F. V. King, Guy L. Smith, and W. C. Whitney, drainage engineers, 
assisted in the preparation of the report. 
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS. 
The protection of the valley of the Red River of the North from 
overflow and the securing of adequate drainage for the low-level lands 
in the valley require the construction of works — to prevent or to con- 
trol overflow, and to provide an outlet for the drainage of the entire 
watershed. Two interstate projects are recommended and several 
State or local projects suggested. 
LAKE TRAVERSE-BOIS DE SIOUX PROJECT. 
In the upper portion of the watershed the Lake Traverse-Bois de 
Sioux project, affecting three States, is proposed to function as fol- 
lows: (1) By means of a detention reservoir in Lake Traverse run-off 
won hi be kept under control, and high-water discharge in the Red 
