Building Strong Communities: Ada, Minnesota

As the City of Ada celebrates 150 years, it’s a chance to look back on where it’s been and the resilience that continues to shape its future.

With a population of just over 1,700, Ada is a close-knit community rooted in strong values and a deep sense of safety. But like many cities in the Red River Valley, its location comes with challenges. Surrounded by a network of waterways including Judicial Ditch 51, the Marsh River, and the Wild Rice River, flooding has long been a concern.

In 1997, that concern became reality.

A Defining Moment for the Community

The 1997 flood left a lasting impact on Ada. Overland flooding moved into the city with little resistance, overwhelming infrastructure and affecting homes and businesses across the community.

Emergency response efforts brought in the National Guard, FEMA, and the Red Cross. City crews worked tirelessly, even using heavy equipment to help residents evacuate as water levels made roads impassable.

For many, it was a moment that changed how the community looked at its future.

Turning Challenge into Action

In the years following the flood, city leaders knew something had to change. Repeated flooding could not continue to define Ada’s future.

That’s when the City of Ada partnered with Moore Engineering to find a long-term solution. Moore Engineering has been a longtime partner to the City of Ada, serving as city engineer since 2005 and working closely with leaders to plan for the community’s future.

“We kind of leaned on Moore Engineering just by their experience. They’ve done plenty of these, so they knew exactly what they were doing.”

Together, they developed a comprehensive flood protection plan centered around a system of levees designed to protect the community from rising waters. One of the more complex challenges involved Judicial Ditch 51 on the north side of town, where space limitations made it difficult to safely construct a levee.

By realigning the ditch farther north, the team was able to create the room needed to build a more effective, certified levee system without impacting nearby homes.

A Lasting Solution

Through phased construction and strategic funding efforts, including securing $9.6 million in grant funding, the project came together over time.

In 2017, 20 years after the original flood, the system was officially certified by FEMA, removing Ada from the floodplain and significantly reducing risk for residents.

“The best thing about it was that residents of Ada no longer had to have flood insurance. We were taken out of the floodplain. That project was completed by Moore, and it saved the citizens of Ada a tremendous amount of money.”

Today, the difference is tangible.

Spring flooding is no longer a constant source of uncertainty, and many residents no longer carry flood insurance. What was once a major concern has become a point of confidence for the community.

Building a Stronger Ada

The impact of these improvements extends far beyond flood protection.

In the years since, Ada has continued to grow and invest in itself, adding new amenities like a school and hospital while strengthening its overall quality of life. What started as a devastating event became a turning point for the community.

Ada didn’t just recover, it rebuilt with purpose.

A Partnership That Made It Possible

For Moore Engineering, projects like Ada reflect what it means to build strong communities.

By helping guide the city through planning, funding, and design, the partnership delivered more than infrastructure. It created long-term stability, peace of mind, and a stronger foundation for the future.

Looking Ahead

As Ada marks its 150th anniversary, it stands as an example of what can happen when communities take a proactive approach to their challenges.

At Moore Engineering, we believe strong infrastructure builds strong communities. Ada’s story is a clear reflection of that belief, a city that turned adversity into opportunity and is better positioned for the future because of it.

We’re proud to be part of Ada’s story and look forward to supporting the community for years to come.

Learn more about how Moore Engineering partners with communities like Ada to plan ahead and build lasting, resilient infrastructure on our City Engineering page.