Breach: Building Integrated Flood Protection, Addressing the Inadequate Response to the Flood of 1997 by the City of Grand Forks

Abstract

In response to The Flood of 1997, the city of Grand Forks, ND constructed a flood wall along the river. It protected the citizens from the seasonal floods but it was an inadequate solution. It created a physical, visual, and emotional disconnect from the river front. The properties along the river front, some of the most valuable in the city, were predominantly rendered useless by the wall. Thus, peace of mind was achieved but at great cost. This thesis project will investigate alternative flood protection methods that could potentially provide a more thoughtful solution to flood protection than a flood-wall and dike.