US City Says It Can’t Afford to Protect Residents From Climate Change

By: Lauren Fokas | Published: Sep 07, 2024

It’s no secret that climate change has already begun causing a series of extreme weather events, from flooding to drought, wildfires, heat waves, and excessive precipitation. But people don’t realize that these events cost Americans billions of dollars.

One US city says it’s doing everything possible to keep its river from flooding, but it still can’t afford to keep its residents above water.

Climate Change Costs the US $150 Billion Every Year

At this point, almost everyone understands the adverse side effects of climate change, but few know how much is spent on preventing, mitigating, protecting, and cleaning up these consequences.

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A businessman holds out his pockets/A photo of water against a gray sky

Source: @Mtt Hardy/Pexels/@Drazen/Getty Images Signature

According to a report published by George Washington University, the US spends around $150 billion annually on climate change. And the World Economic Forum states that climate change costs the planet $16 million every hour.

City in Minnesota Struggling to Protect Residents

While climate spending is happening everywhere, almost all the time, the city of Moorhead, Minnesota, is currently struggling with the seemingly constant costs of protecting its people from climate change.

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An aerial photograph of Moorhead, Minnesota

Source: @CityofMoorhead/Facebook

Moorhead sits alongside the Red River, which flows through much of Minnesota, along the North Dakota border, and all the way to Lake Winnipeg. And this river is causing immense problems for the small city.

The Red River Is Flooding More Than Ever

The 550-mile Red River is beautiful and necessary for the region’s natural ecosystem.

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The Red River as it flows through Pembina, North Dakota

Source: Wikipedia

However, as Minnesota and North Dakota continue to experience excessive rainfall due to the ever-changing climate, the Red River is flooding more than ever before.

Minnesota and North Dakota Are Working Together

In response to this frustrating reality, lawmakers from either side of the river, from Fargo, North Dakota, and Moorhead, Minnesota, have banded together to fund the Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion Project, more commonly referred to as the Red River Diversion.

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Dozens of $100 bills

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The roughly $3.2 billion project will protect almost 300,000 families and homes from future flooding, though it will take another three years to complete.

Moorhead Lawmakers Say This Isn’t Enough to Protect Residents

While the diversion project is set to help minimize or even eliminate the risk of river flooding, Moorhead’s lead engineer, Bob Zimmerman, said it still won’t protect the city from extreme rain events.

A bridge passes over Red River in Moorhead, Minnesota

Source: Wikipedia

Zimmerman argues that, because of the geography and topography of both the river and the city of Moorhead, they will continue to see mild and even drastic flooding in the coming years if more is not done to stop it.

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Moorhead’s Storm Sewer System Needs to Be Replaced

Zimmerman, along with other experts in Moorhead, argues that the storm sewer system needs to be replaced to protect the city’s residents from flooding.

A close-up photo of a storm sewer releasing water

Source: Freepik

The storm sewers throughout Moorhead are more than 70 years old, and they are not nearly big enough to handle the extra precipitation brought on by climate change. However, this project may be impossible as it’s wildly expensive.

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The Storm Sewer Project Would Cost $120 Million

The Moorhead storm sewer project has already been drawn up, and according to Zimmerman’s calculations, it would cost the city of Moorhead around $120 million.

Two construction workers go over plans in a new home

Source: Freepik

While that may seem like a ridiculous amount of money for a sewer system, Zimmerman explained that this project is particularly expensive in Moorhead because of the geography and intense risk of flood.

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Moorhead Needs Extra Large Storm Sewers

Heavy clay soils lie under the residences and businesses of Moorhead, Minnesota, limiting the amount of water the ground can absorb. This soil not only makes the city susceptible to flooding but also makes underground construction far more challenging.

A photograph of aggressive flooding in Moorhead, Minnesota

Source: Reddit

As Zimmerman explained, “Typically, storm sewers drain by gravity, and in this part of the world if we tried to design storm sewers for huge events, extreme events, the size of the pipes would be so large, [and] the cost of the development would be so large.”

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How Can Moorhead Fund the Money It Needs to Protect the City From Flooding?

The city applied for federal funding to at least start the storm sewer project, but unfortunately, it can take years before infrastructure projects are accepted.

The logo for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MCPA)

Source: @MCPA/Facebook

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, which funded the project’s design, has allotted $35 million to Moorhead, but it’s simply not enough to complete the storm sewer plan.

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Moorhead Could Charge Its Residents

Another option on the table is implementing a house assessment requirement for all Moorhead residents, which they would have to pay for out of pocket. However, for obvious reasons, this plan is fairly unpopular.

A small model home next to several rolls of blueprints

Source: Freepik

Zimmerman explained, “That’s a tool in the toolbox we could use, but definitely one that we would prefer not to.”

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Moorhead Will Continue to See Excessive Rain as Climate Change Worsens

Nearly 90% of Minnesota residents report they have personally felt the effects of climate change, and that number will soon grow to 100% as these consequences worsen.

Someone holds their hand out to feel the rain as it falls

Source: Freepik

Until the storm sewer system is complete, Moorhead residents will continue to experience mild and extreme flooding, which will ruin their homes, businesses, and vehicles. Moorhead’s officials are doing everything they can, but until they have the funding they need, they’re at quite a standstill.

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