Red River Joint Water Resource District outlines dam-rehab funding, highlights Larimore project cost estimate

The Red River Joint Water Resource District on Monday briefed the Grand Forks County Commission on basinwide planning and funding for flood‑risk projects, emphasizing a 65% cost‑share policy for eligible projects that benefit at least two member districts. Melissa Hinkmire, secretary of the district, said the agency was formed in 1979 and currently includes 14 members across 11 counties.

The district “provides 65% cost share funding of non‑federal non‑state portions of eligible projects that…benefit at least two member districts,” Hinkmire said, and highlighted support for detention structures, dam rehabilitation, emergency action plans and hydrologic data systems. The district also funds about 15 USGS stream gauges and 22 seasonal snow‑water stations across the basin, she said, noting gauges and LIDAR/elevation tools provide critical runoff forecasting data.

Of particular interest to the county, Hinkmire said a Larimore (Larore/Larmore in some documents) dam rehabilitation in Grand Forks County is on the district’s near‑term list and currently carries a cost estimate “over $16 million.” She said the district expects some federal and state funding but cannot yet confirm those amounts; the district’s 65% share applies after federal and state dollars are applied.

Commissioners asked about financial transparency and member contributions; the district representatives said they conduct annual audits (state auditor reported to do the audit) and agreed to provide a breakdown of what each member pays annually. The district’s typical levy is 1.5 mills and it can levy between zero and two mills under current legislation, Hinkmire said; the board indicated a likely 1.5‑mill levy for 2027.

Tom Purdue, representing the Grand Forks County Water Resource District, and Joshua, chairman of the Red River Joint board, described how upstream projects (rehabs in Cass, Traill and Steele counties) produce downstream benefits for Grand Forks County. On schedule, officials said the Larimore work is still in study and design phases with NRCS involvement and no firm construction date yet.

Why it matters: the Larimore rehabilitation — if federal and state contributions fall short — could require the district and local assessment mechanisms to shoulder a substantial local share. County commissioners asked staff to obtain audit reports and member‑payment details to evaluate future budget implications and to coordinate planning for potential bond or assessment strategies.

Next steps: District staff agreed to provide the county clerk/auditor with the annual audit when available and to supply a list of member districts and their annual contributions. The commission did not take action during the briefing but requested those materials for follow‑up budget review.