The Flood Damage Reduction Work Group (FDRWG or Work Group) was originally formed in 1998 to address issues related to the development of flood damage reduction projects in that portion of the Red River of the North Basin in Minnesota. (See next section.) While recognizing that the ultimate solutions to the flood damage and natural resource problems in the Red River Basin will take a concerted effort from people throughout the Basin, the Work Group was formed to address issues that are unique to Minnesota. However, the Work Group maintains extensive communications and coordination with jurisdictions and organizations throughout the Basin. For example, in 2005, two members of the Flood Damage Reduction Work Group also served as chairpersons for other Basin-wide organizations.
The Flood Damage Reduction Work Group is not a legally constituted body and has no regulatory or funding authority. It is an ad hoc group of individuals representing federal, state and local governments, and non-governmental organizations that meet voluntarily under a set of mutually agreed upon groundrules. The Work Group meets for the purpose of coordinating the implementation of the 1998 Mediation Agreement and making recommendations to other authorities and jurisdictions within the Red River Basin to that effect.
In December 1998, an agreement to reduce flood damage and improve natural resources in the Minnesota portion of the Red River Basin was reached by representatives of watershed districts, state and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and private landowner representatives.
These departments work with all area agencies and supporting entities that help to reduce flooding on the Red River. Click here to review more in-depth detail about each sub-committee.
Each year the Flood Damage Reduction Work Group has the opportunity to direct the expenditure of an appropriation of state general funds through the Department of Natural Resources Water Resources account. The spending plan adopted by the Work Group that recommends how the Department of Natural Resources should allocate those funds.
JUNE 15, 2016 | 1 PM
Red Lake Watershed District
1000 Pennington Avenue South
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
AUGUST 17, 2016 | 1 PM
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Lower Meeting Room
1000 Highway 10 West
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
OCTOBER 19, 2016 | 1 PM
Red Lake Watershed District
1000 Pennington Avenue South
Thief River Falls, MN 56701
Mail to the Work Group:
Henry Van Offelen, Red River Basin Coordinator
MN Dept. of Natural Resources
26624 North Tower Road
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Email:
Henry.Van.Offelen@state.mn.us
Phone contact:
Henry Van Offelen
218-846-8406 Office
218-849-5270 Cell
Jerome Deal - RRWMB (co-chair)
Greg Nelson -MN DNR(co-chair)
Dan Wilkens - RRWMB
Leroy Carriere - RRWMB
Orville Knott -RRWMB
Dan Money - RRWMB Alternate
Greg Holmvik - RRWMB Alternate
Keith Mykleseth - MN DNR
Henry VanOffelen - MCEA
Tamara Cameron - St. Paul District, USACOE
Vacant - St. Paul District, USACO Alternate
John Jaschke - MN BWSR
Brian Dwight - MN BWSR Alternate
Jim Ziegler - Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Jim Courneya
- MPCA Alternate
Ryan Frohling - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Laurie Fairchild
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Alternate
Stephanie Miranowski – County Government Representative
Terry Guttormson - Citizen and Landowner
Eddie Bernhardson - Citizen
Gerald Van Amburg – Citizen Alternate
Chuck Fritz
Keith Weston – USDA NRCS
Bruce Nelson – USDA Farm Services Agency
Sue Westrom - USDA Farm Services Agency Alternate
Rob Sip -- MN Dept. of Agriculture
Bob Patton - MN Dept. of Agriculture Alternate
Shane Bowe- Red Lake Nation
Alt:
Vacant
- Red Lake Nation
Altternate
Ken Pederson - SWCD
Vacant - SWCD
Alternate
Vacant - environmental/conservation organization rep.
Brian Lacey - , Agricultural Representative
Other Support
Work Group Facilitator: Henry Van Offelen, RRB Coordinator
Naomi Goral-Administrator, RRWMB
Address: P.O. Box 763 | Detroit Lakes, MN 56502
Telephone: (218) 844-6166
FAX: (218) 844-6167
E-mail: rrwmb@arvig.net
