The Red River Watershed Management Board (RRWMB) supports the inclusion of $9 million for flood hazard mitigation grants through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in the $700 million bonding package passed during the Minnesota Legislature’s special session in early June 2025. 

Senator Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls) joined the Board’s July 8, 2025 meeting for a legislative update and he discussed the flood hazard mitigation funding included in the bonding package. Rasmusson served as one of the key legislators who negotiated the final package, emphasizing the importance of flood mitigation funding for Northwest Minnesota.  

The RRWMB, which oversees flood mitigation efforts with seven watershed districts in Northwest Minnesota, has long advocated for robust state investment in flood mitigation infrastructure. This funding, part of the DNR’s Flood Hazard Mitigation Grant Assistance Program, will support vital flood mitigation and water management projects across the Red River Basin of Minnesota, enhancing community resilience and protecting lives and property.  

While the specific allocation of the $9 million will soon be determined by the DNR, the RRWMB is optimistic that a portion of these funds will bolster ongoing and planned projects benefiting the communities in the region.  

“Securing $9 million for flood hazard mitigation is a significant step forward for Minnesota’s efforts to address flooding, and we’re hopeful that these funds will support critical projects in the Red River Basin,” said Robert Sip, Executive Director of the RRWMB. “We appreciate Senator Rasumsson’s commitment to our region and look forward to working with the DNR to maximize the impact of these funds.”  

“This bonding bill delivers meaningful investments for communities across Minnesota, including millions of dollars to help protect against flooding through the DNR’s proven grant program,” said Sen. Rasmusson. “These fiscally responsible investments make good use of taxpayer dollars and ensure our rural communities can survive and thrive while protecting from costly flood damage.”  

About the RRWMB: The RRWMB was created by an act of the Minnesota legislature in 1976 to provide an organization with a basin-wide perspective concerning flooding.  Historically, the activities of the RRWMB have centered on flood mitigation.  The RRWMB actively promotes a basin-wide perspective for water management and is also involved with funding of farmstead ring dikes, technical initiatives such as updated LiDAR, water quality and habitat projects, and the River Watch Program in Northwest Minnesota.