Mustinka River Redpath Impoundment Project

Challenge

The Mustinka River faced severe flooding due to spring snowmelt and inadequate channel capacity which led to damaged infrastructure, eroded farmland, and threatened homes. The Bios de Sioux Watershed District needed both a comprehensive flood mitigation plan and a robust funding strategy to move the project forward.

Solution

Bios de Sioux Watershed District partnered with Moore Engineering to develop an engineering solution and a funding approach that aligned with the project’s goals. Moore’s engineering and funding staff engaged with key personnel from state agencies, emphasizing both the flood mitigation and environmental benefits of the project. The team’s comprehensive approach and commitment to early coordination with agency staff ultimately resulted in funding awards from Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund (LSOHF), Minnesota Flood Hazard Mitigation (MN FHM), Red River Watershed Management Board (RRWMB), MN State Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) Clean Water Funding and others.

Outcome

With the majority of funding secured for the $62 million project, construction began in Spring 2022 and is on track for completion in 2026. The project will mitigate flooding, protect surrounding riverbank infrastructure, and restore the historic alignment of a straightened reach of the river. By meeting the technical and financial challenges of the project, Moore Engineering has delivered solutions that demonstrate our ability to integrate engineering and funding strategies.