The Red River Joint Water Resource District is a joint board under North Dakota law comprised of 14 individual Water Resource Districts in the Red River Basin. The Red River Joint Water Resource District provides for a coordinated and cooperative approach to water management and provides critical funding to member districts for the purpose of developing and financing water retention projects.
Special Projects, News, and Information
Elm River Dams Improvements Project
The Elm River Joint Water Resource District has completed construction of the Elm River Dams Improvements Project, a major effort to rehabilitate three federally constructed dams originally built in the 1960s and later found to be in disrepair. The district owns and operates Elm River Dam 1 in Steele County, Elm River Dam 2 (Augustadt Dam) in Traill County, and Elm River Dam 3 in Cass County. Together, these dams provide important downstream flood protection across all three counties, offering more than 16,000 acre-feet of total flood retention storage across their respective watersheds.
The project followed a multi-year engineering and public involvement process that evaluated several alternatives, including dam removal, before selecting full replacement of aging structures to ensure long-term flood protection. Improvements included replacing principal spillway culverts at all three dams and repairing embankments, emergency spillways, and tieback embankments. Construction began in spring 2024 and concluded in summer 2025 under a single contract. The $8.4 million project was funded primarily through the North Dakota Resources Trust Fund, Red River Joint Water Resource District, and Cass County Flood Sales Tax Committee, with the local maintenance district contributing $126,000.
The Elm River Joint Water Resource District has completed construction of the Elm River Dams Improvements Project, a major effort to rehabilitate three federally constructed dams originally built in the 1960s and later found to be in disrepair. The district owns and operates Elm River Dam 1 in Steele County, Elm River Dam 2 (Augustadt Dam) in Traill County, and Elm River Dam 3 in Cass County. Together, these dams provide important downstream flood protection across all three counties, offering more than 16,000 acre-feet of total flood retention storage across their respective watersheds.
The project followed a multi-year engineering and public involvement process that evaluated several alternatives, including dam removal, before selecting full replacement of aging structures to ensure long-term flood protection. Improvements included replacing principal spillway culverts at all three dams and repairing embankments, emergency spillways, and tieback embankments. Construction began in spring 2024 and concluded in summer 2025 under a single contract. The $8.4 million project was funded primarily through the North Dakota Resources Trust Fund, Red River Joint Water Resource District, and Cass County Flood Sales Tax Committee, with the local maintenance district contributing $126,000.
2025 Thompson-Varnson Steamboat Award Recipient
Randy Gjestvang
Randy Gjestvang
This year’s recipient of the Thompson-Varnson Steamboat Award is Randy Gjestvang. After 41 years of exceptional service as the Red River Basin Engineer, Mr. Gjestvang has retired. His decades of guidance, leadership, and dedication have made a lasting impact on all who have had the pleasure of working with him.
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Red River Joint Water Resource District
1201 Main Ave W West Fargo, ND 58078 |
