Published April 21, 2011, 12:35 AM

By: Forum staff reports, INFORUM

WASHINGTON – More than $10 million for water retention and flood mitigation projects in the Red River Valley in Minnesota has been awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rep. Collin Peterson said Wednesday.

Restoring wetlands through this funding will help retain and slow floodwaters in the Red River Valley watershed, while providing valuable wildlife habitat and reducing damages from severe flooding, said Peterson, who represents Minnesota’s 7th District, including Clay County.

“This special initiative funding will expand (the wetlands reserve program’s) ability to mitigate flood damage within the basin by retaining higher levels of floodwaters within the easement acres,” Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. “Projects funded through this initiative will reduce the costs to our rural private landowners who continue to experience severe damages during these flood events.”