North Dakota
Upstream landowners ponder discrepancies between North Dakota, Minnesota F-M Diversion payouts
CHRISTINE, N.D. — Josh Granholt has spent much of his life on quiet farmland tucked into the bends of the Red River.
His family has farmed land near Christine for more than 100 years. Those fields give way to forested groves along the river, where he and his parents live today.
Despite their proximity to the river, the main houses on the Granholt family’s farmsteads have never flooded, even in years where cities to the north were inundated with water.
“The old timers put a house where it made sense and didn’t flood, not where it looked cool, because they didn’t want to deal with it,” Granholt said.
The construction of the
Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion
upstream will change how Granholt’s land floods. He hopes to get compensated fairly for newly flooded land — and equally to landowners on the Minnesota side of the river.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
The diversion is a $3.2 billion flood control project designed to protect the Fargo-Moorhead metro from extreme floods. When operational, the project will hold water south of the metro behind a 22-mile earthen embankment. Three gated structures will control the release of floodwater into the Red River, the Wild Rice River and a 30-mile diversion channel that arcs west around the cities.
In order to hold water south of the embankment, the Metro Flood Diversion Authority, a governmental entity that oversees parts of the project, needs to secure property rights to store water on the land south of the dam. It has been doing so in the form of flowage easements. Property owners are paid for giving the Diversion Authority the right to flood their land.
The Granholt family properties are among those the Diversion Authority is in the process of securing property rights for through the eminent domain process, which allows a government to take land for public use.
Proposed flowage easements on Granholt family land pay for flooding in places that have never flooded before. But on the Minnesota side of the Red River, flowage easements cover far more land and stretch farther south along the river.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Different states, different rules
In Minnesota, maps for the project show the Diversion Authority is acquiring flowage easements well into Wilkin County, about 30 miles south of Moorhead.
In North Dakota, a majority of flowage easements are in Cass County. Flowage easements in Richland County are along the Red River or waterways that flow into the Red River. The southernmost flowage easements in North Dakota are southeast of Christine, across the river from Wolverton, Minn. Wolverton is about 22 miles south of Moorhead.
Differences in flowage easements between North Dakota and Minnesota come down to the fact that the project involves two different states with different permitting requirements, Diversion Authority Executive Director Jason Benson said.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources permit requires property mitigation for up to a tenth of a foot of impact of the principal maximum flood, Benson said, which is “kind of the biblical flood, something that’s hard to comprehend.”
On the North Dakota side, the state requires mitigation for up to a half foot to the 100-year or 500-year flood levels, whichever is a higher impact, he said. A 100-year flood has a 1% chance of happening in any given year, while a 500-year flood has a 0.2% chance of happening in any given year.
“We’re applying Minnesota permit and regulations and rules for Minnesota residents and land mitigation on the Minnesota side. We’re applying North Dakota rules, regulations and law for land that we’re mitigating on the North Dakota side,” Benson said.
Permitting differences are the
basis of landowner countersuits in the eminent domain process.
Landowners represented by attorney Cash Aaland began filing counterclaims in eminent domain proceedings in February, alleging that North Dakota landowners are not being paid for all the water that could be displaced onto their property, or for the resulting damages, when the diversion’s southern dam holds back a maximum amount of water.
While the permit requirements are different in the two states, Granholt thinks Minnesota and North Dakota landowners should receive the same treatment.
“If Minnesota gets paid for everything, for an inch and above, not only do I think we should be compensated, but we should know where that is,” Granholt said.
Further, Granholt worries that if 6 inches of water did fill the flowage easement area, more shallow areas of water would stretch farther onto his property.
“Does that mean there’s going to be 5 inches someplace we’re not getting compensated for?” Granholt said. “Because whether it’s 1 inch or 1 foot in your basement, it’s still water in there, isn’t it?”
Chris Flynn / The Forum
Ken Knudsen lives a couple miles north of Granholt, northeast of Christine. His land is similar to Granholt’s — a grove of trees in one of the Red River’s loops, with a house built high enough to avoid flooding.
With the proposed flowage easements on his land, Knudsen expected to negotiate an amount for the water that could be stored on his land and a payout for the tear-down of a garage turned “man cave.” Finding out that Aaland thinks that water could go higher was not good news.
“I don’t want to move, and I don’t want to sell and I don’t want to fight floods that I’ve been told shouldn’t happen to our place,” Knudsen said.
The land Knudsen lives on was one of the original farmsteads in the area, he said, meaning that the brothers who moved there got to pick the best plot of land.
“I’d like to see that our farm doesn’t flood and we can just stay there, and it’s a beautiful place to live and pass it onto our kids and whatever,” Knudsen said. “If we’re going to end up having to fight floods every time they use the dam, then we’d have to think differently.”
The Diversion Authority does have a mechanism for landowners to bring forward claims if diversion operations flood more land than flowage easements cover. In such cases, landowners will be able to bring claims to a dispute resolution board created by the Diversion Authority. That board will determine if damage was caused by the project.
Granholt said he’s aware of that process.
“It’s usually easier to get it the first time than to come back and ask for more,” Granholt said.
Chris Flynn / The Forum
North Dakota’s small towns get less attention than they deserve. Mandan keeps the state’s oldest park alive at Fort Abraham Lincoln, where reconstructed earth lodges sit a few minutes from a working farmers’ market. Valley City earns its City of Bridges nickname with a downtown tour that crosses the Sheyenne River eight times. New Salem holds onto its 19th-century Custer Trail story while pointing visitors toward miles of open prairie. Bottineau adds a creamery operating since the 1930s and a giant turtle statue that has somehow become the town mascot. The seven towns below pack more character into a quiet state than most people expect.
Mandan
Mandan’s past is layered in different eras of American history. First, this town was a village for the Mandan tribe; it later became a cavalry fort, then a railroad town, and finally a hub for the region’s farmers and ranchers.
Attractions include the Mandan Heritage Plaza, which houses a wonderful local farmers’ market. Another great attraction is Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, which is the oldest state park in North Dakota. This state park features educational opportunities about the Mandan Native Americans through reconstructed earth lodges. For those of a mind seeking adventure, Huff Hills Ski Area contains some of the best slopes in the state.
Bottineau
Though it does make for a fun stop, there is even more to Bottineau than the giant statue of Tommy the turtle keeping vigil by the roadside. For example, you may want to visit Pride Dairy, the last small-town creamery in all of North Dakota. Named by USA Today as the best ice cream in the state, this family-oriented shop has been servicing its customers since the 1930s. For further culinary options, one may want to visit Marie’s on Main Street; operating as a bistro, fine-dining experience, and cocktail bar all at once, Marie’s is a local favorite. Lastly, excursions to nearby Lake Metigoshe State Park offer hiking trails, fishing holes, and more.
Rugby
Many of Rugby’s best attractions are in its history. The Prairie Village Museum showcases some of the county’s oldest artifacts, and the 1907 Great Northern Railroad Depot gives a great glimpse into the past. Built in red-brick Tudor style, this depot is one of many scattered across the nation to be repurposed and preserved. The Victorian Dress Museum is located in a former church and provides a delightful look into Victorian-era fashion and accessories. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Main Street Boutique is also a local highlight. Here, attendees can shop for everything from clothing to kitchen items.
Valley City
Nicknamed the City of Bridges for a reason, Valley City encourages its visitors to embark on the Valley City Historic Bridges Tour to best appreciate this town’s unique place in history. The many bridges of the tour cross over the Sheyenne River at various points, but none stand out more than the Hi-line Railroad Bridge, which is one of the highest and longest single-track railroad bridges in the country. After this interesting tour, you may want to check out Medicine Wheel Park, located on the grounds of Valley City State University. Scenic and lush, this Park contains 30 acres and a large rock sculpture meant to track Earth’s rotation around the sun.
Speaking of planets: the downtown Valley City State Planetarium makes for a perfect family outing. As of 2025 it has been equipped with a new domed projection system and a 24-foot ceiling.
Lisbon
Lisbon, settled in the heart of the Sheyenne River Valley, has a Main Street lively with restaurants, shopping, and history. Among its best places to eat is the Bronc, a local favorite that combines social atmosphere with delicious meals. Nearby, one can also find the Rustic Hanger, a boutique with clothing, gifts, and home decor that adds to the town’s charm.
As promised, there are plenty of outdoor experiences to enjoy both in Lisbon and the valley in which it is situated. The North Country Trail is a great opportunity for visitors to hike and explore, challenging themselves on a trail that runs from the Sheyenne River National Scenic Byway on the north side of Lisbon and the beautiful Sheyenne River bluffs on the south side.
Dickinson
Speaking of trails to explore, outdoorsy types will also love Dickinson for its proximity to the Crooked Crane Trail, which offers wide-open landscapes and wildlife. Nearby Patterson Lake, too, provides visitors a chance to have a day on the water or enjoy a shoreline stroll.
Also exploring its own nature and history is the Dickinson Museum Center, which (amongst other options) is home to the Badlands Dinosaur Museum – an exciting chance for families to enjoy a deep exploration of an ever-evolving exhibit displaying fossils, minerals, and a public preparation lab. The museum provides an excellent glimpse into prehistoric life in the area and is always working to provide new exhibits and opportunities for all guests.
New Salem
Established in 1883, New Salem’s history is best explored in the Custer Trail Museum. Featuring multiple buildings, this impressive museum contains a church from 1904, two schoolhouses, the Old New Salem depot, a blacksmith shop, and others. Following this, visitors may want to stop by Metro Perk & Market, a local restaurant/bakery and a coveted coffee shop.
There are several options for accommodations should one wish to explore New Salem and its beautiful, expansive prairie fields in more depth. This includes the Metropolitan Hotel and the Arrowhead Inn.
The towns explored on this list are each historic and full of character. North Dakota’s best offerings are found in the walking tour across Valley City’s bridges, in the nature around Lisbon, and in the historic train depots of Rugby. There is much more to North Dakota than can be found on these towns’ streets and in their surroundings, so do not wait: these seven small towns are ready to be visited.
FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) -A North Dakota woman is facing a federal involuntary manslaughter charge after a deadly crash on an American Indian reservation last fall.
A federal grand jury indicted Brittany Renne Laverdure on April 22, 2026, accusing her of killing a person while driving under the influence of multiple substances on or about Sept. 21, 2025, in Indian country in North Dakota.
Because the incident occurred in Indian country, the case falls under federal jurisdiction, specifically under 18 U.S.C. § 1153, which gives the federal government authority to prosecute certain crimes committed by Native Americans on tribal lands. The indictment identifies Laverdure as an Indian under that statute.
According to the indictment, Laverdure acted with “wanton and reckless disregard for human life amounting to gross negligence.” Prosecutors say she attempted to make a U-turn and pulled into oncoming traffic while impaired, without due care for the safety of others.
The victim’s name is not being reported at this time and court documents did not provide any further details on the incident.
An arrest warrant was issued April 23, 2026 and a special agent with the FBI arrested Laverdure on April 28, 2026, in Grand Forks.
Laverdure is scheduled to stand trial June 23, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Peter D. Welte in Fargo. The trial is expected to last four days.
Involuntary manslaughter under federal law carries a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.
Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.
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