US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack was in Moorhead, Minnesota on Wednesday to announce $50 million in funding over five years to minimize flooding while improving water and soil quality in the Red River Basin.
"The Red River Basin is a mosaic of farmlands, grasslands, forests, and wetlands with a unique set of conservation challenges. This Farm Bill funding will help us work with local partners to implement water retention projects to help reduce flooding and mitigate the damage repeated flooding creates," said Vilsack. "Along with better protection from flooding, these conservation efforts can help provide improved farming and ranching opportunities, cleaner water, and homes for a variety of wildlife. This will help boost the region's economy in a number of areas, including in agriculture, hunting and fishing, and other outdoor recreation."
The USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service will work with local water districts to support water retention projects and other conservation efforts.
25 million acres in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota drain into the Red River, which flows north into Lake Winnipeg.
Source: PortageOnline