ST. PAUL, Minn. (KFGO) - Gov. Mark Dayton says he seriously doubts that the F-M Diversion Project can be completed unless federal funding levels are increased substantially.
In an interview with KFGO News, Dayton says if Congress continues giving the project just $5 million each year, it'll take "a long, long time" for the $2.2 billion diversion to get built.
“I’m skeptical” Dayton said. “Given the costs and given the pressures on the federal budget, that under any reasonable funding scenario, I question whether that funding is going to be coming in sufficient amounts to get that project done.”
Dayton also made it clear that the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources will continue to fight the diversion. “The proposal, as it’s been presented, would have a major effect on farmland south of Fargo-Moorhead” according to Dayton. “The (FM Diversion) Authority thinks they can just ram this through.”
Minnesota wants a federal judge to grant its request to temporarily stop construction on the project. Dayton says if tghat happens, he'd be willing to "sit down, negotiate and find a better alternative.”
