Press Release
☷USACE supports North Dakota flood fight
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
May 02,2022
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Engineers with the U . S . Army Corps of Engineers , St . Paul District , trained a group of local volunteers in Valley City , North Dakota , April 29 , ahead of forecast flooding within the community . Luke Schmidt and Adam Gamblin , both St . Paul District geotechnical engineers , are supporting the city’s flood fight efforts and have been monitoring the temporary levee construction . The nearly 8 , 000 linear feet of temporary levees were placed at eight locations within the city by the Corps of Engineers’ contractor Strata Corporation , from Grand Forks , North Dakota . The work was completed April 26 , but the need to monitor the temporary levees continues . Schmidt said the Corps of Engineers is actively assisting the local community by providing technical assistance when it comes to evaluating the temporary levees constructed during this year’s flood fight . He said the levees , constructed in a mere three days , include around 27 , 000 cubic yards of material . Luke Schmidt , left , and Adam Gamblin , both U . S . Army Corps of Engineers , St . Paul District , geotechnical engineers supporting the Valley City , North Dakota , flood fight , train local volunteers what to look for when monitoring temporary levees April 29 . The U . S . Army Corps of Engineers , St . Paul District , is assisting the city of Valley City in their flood fight following recent weather events , The Corps of Engineers and its contractor , Strata Corporation , from Grand Forks , North Dakota , constructed around 8 , 000 linear feet of temporary levees to reduce the flood threat within the community . Corps officials completed the temporary levee construction April 26 , ahead of the Sheyenne River cresting early next week and continue supporting in coordination with their federal , state and local partners . Adam Gamblin , U . S . Army Corps of Engineers , St . Paul District , geotechnical engineer , monitors a levee system within Valley City , North Dakota , April 28 . Gamblin is among a team of engineers that are routinely looking at vulnerable areas within the community . They are positioned to rapidly respond to an area if a situation develops that needs to be addressed . The U . S . Army Corps of Engineers , St . Paul District , and its contractor , Strata Corporation , from Grand Forks , North Dakota , completed around 8 , 000 linear feet of temporary levees to enhance protection within the community from the Sheyenne Rivers following recent weather events within the region . Corps officials completed the temporary levee construction April 26 , ahead of the Sheyenne River cresting early next week . Corps officials are in coordination with their federal , state and local partners as the city monitors the levee system . The U . S . Army Corps of Engineers , St . Paul District , and its contractor , Strata Corporation , from Grand Forks , North Dakota , are assisting the city of Valley City by constructing around 8 , 000 linear feet of temporary levees to protect the community from the Sheyenne Rivers following recent weather events within the region . Corps officials completed the temporary levee construction April 26 , ahead of the Sheyenne River cresting early next week . Corps officials will continue supporting the city once the construction is complete in coordination with their federal , state and local partners . Valley City is a home away from home for Schmidt . He said he’s very familiar with the city having supported previous flood fights in 2009 and 2011 . “Helping a community during a flood is one of the best parts about my job , ” said Schmidt . “Being able to do what I can to reduce the risk of a flood within the community is what it is all about . ” To that end , Schmidt said he and Gamblin taught a group of 125 community volunteers what to look for while monitoring temporary levees . The volunteers took that knowledge , some safety equipment such as a life jacket , flashlight and high visibility vest , and started walking the levees Friday , April 29 . One of the first groups to volunteer was Valley City Mayor Dave Carlsrud and Valley City Commissioner Dick Gulmon . Gamblin said the training sessions focused on four areas . He said the areas included: Seepage , which occurs when water penetrates through or under a levee . If water is spotted , Gamblin said it’s important to note the color of the water . “Dirty colored water may indicate material is being lost within the levee , ” he said . “Clear water is normal but requires additional monitoring . ” He also said that seepage can appear far away from the levee . The U . S . Army Corps of Engineers , St . Paul District , and its contractor , Strata Corporation , from Grand Forks , North Dakota , are assisting the city of Valley City by constructing around 8 , 000 linear feet of temporary levees to protect the community from the Sheyenne Rivers following recent weather events within the region . Corps officials completed the temporary levee construction April 26 , ahead of the Sheyenne River cresting early next week . Corps officials will continue supporting the city once the construction is complete in coordination with their federal , state and local partners . Adam Gamblin , U . S . Army Corps of Engineers , St . Paul District , geotechnical engineer , examines a vulnerable area on a temporary levee within Valley City , North Dakota , April 28 . Gamblin is among a team of engineers that are routinely looking at vulnerable areas within the community . They are positioned to rapidly respond to an area if a situation develops that needs to be addressed . The U . S . Army Corps of Engineers , St . Paul District , and its contractor , Strata Corporation , from Grand Forks , North Dakota , completed around 8 , 000 linear feet of temporary levees to enhance protection within the community from the Sheyenne Rivers following recent weather events within the region . Corps officials completed the temporary levee construction April 26 , ahead of the Sheyenne River cresting early next week . Corps officials are in coordination with their federal , state and local partners as the city monitors the levee system . Levee stability involves ensuring the levee is not moving or changing shape . He said temporary levees can slide or collapse with little warning . Cracks can be observed while monitoring a levee . He said he recommended marking the location and size of the crack and then reporting it to the appropriate local official . Scour is a condition that is usually found on the river side of the levee and is caused by flows removing material from the temporary levee . Gamblin said that if scouring is detected , volunteers should contact local officials for additional evaluations . Gamblin said the key thing to remember when looking at levees is the fact that each levee system is unique . “The most important thing to look for is change , ” he said . “Is there a crack where there wasn’t one before Has a crack increased in length or width Is there a wet area that was dry before ” It’s also important to remember that temporary levees usually have rough edges and the use of a life jacket while near these levees is highly encouraged .
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