FARGO, N.D. (AP) -- Officials with the group that is managing a proposed Red River diversion project say a handful of landowners are selling their property in an area that would be used to hold back water in times of serious flooding. The Red River Diversion Authority Board says it has deals to buy six different parcels of land and is negotiating on a seventh tract, for a total of about 2,000 acres. Cass County Joint Water Resource District chairman Mark Brodshaug says those residents believe the project is moving forward, even though funding for construction of the $2 billion channel was not included in President Obama's 2015 budget proposal. The diversion would move water around the Fargo area.
An opposition group of upstream landowners has filed a federal lawsuit against the project.