FARGO, ND — In a historic moment for the FM Area Diversion Project, the Sheyenne River was recently rerouted through its aqueduct structure, joining the Maple River, which was routed through its aqueduct structure less than six months prior. This milestone has been several years in the making. Work began on the Maple River Aqueduct in 2023 and on the Sheyenne River Aqueduct in 2024.
Their purpose is to carry two rivers over the stormwater diversion channel portion of the FM Area Diversion project. They are the northernmost aqueducts in the world and two of only a few in North America. Each aqueduct features a heated low flow channel to ensure fish passage through the cold winter months.
The aqueducts were built away from each river to allow for construction on dry land. An engineered channel was then constructed on each end of the aqueduct for the river to flow from its natural riverbed, across the aqueduct flume, and back into its natural riverbed.
Inside each aqueduct flume and engineered channels, fish will encounter roughness elements such as boulders to mimic natural elements of their river habitat. The boulders create resting spots for the fish as they swim through the aqueduct. As part of the reroute of the river, fish and mussels were salvaged from the abandoned section of each river and relocated to the natural riverbed.
With both rivers routed through the aqueduct structures, channel excavation through the abandoned section of the previous riverbed has continued at the Maple River and will be started soon at the Sheyenne River.
Each aqueduct also has a vertical lift gate that will be used to control the flow of water during flood operation.
