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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Valley City will drop its joint agreement with the U-S Army Corps of Engineers “Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study” due to a low cost benefit ratio on flood projects that don’t meet federal guidelines. City Commissioner Matt Pederson said the first phase provided useful information.

City Commissioner Mary Lee Nielson said the corps would only cover a portion of flood protection efforts the city is interested in pursuing.

Commissioner Pederson said the city will pursue permanent flood protection efforts through the state water commission.

City Auditor Avis Richter said the cost of the study was nearly 150,000 dollars.

The study recommended pursuing modifications to Baldhill Dam to accommodate wind wave effects at pool levels higher than an elevation of 1271.

Another alternative the Corps would support was an Environmental Assessment study for a draw down on Lake Ashtabula prior to a major flood event. The study also said the risk of Devils Lake overtopping is low in the long run due to Devils Lake Outlets.