BISMARCK, ND ( KXNET ) — Right now, Bismarck city leaders are planning for the next round of flood control.

On Friday, Senator John Hoeven and a regional supervisor with FEMA were in Bismarck to talk about how to pay for a project that would store excess water during a high-water event.

FEMA has approved a $50 million grant for Bismarck to use. The city is considering three options to dig a large storage pond. The project total is expected to cost around $122 million.

City spokespeople say it would remove more homes from the newest FEMA flood map and would also no longer mandate nearly 1,000 homeowners to buy flood insurance.

“So, what it really does is it accelerates the timeline and helps us get it done sooner,” Sen. Hoeven said. “The state has already appropriated some of the money as has the city, so again, phase one’s fully funded, but with the upcoming legislative session, they’re able to get the balance of the funding they need for the project, and the city has options as how they want to do it.”

The city is considering putting the storage pond along South 12th Street near the Bismarck Airport or near Expressway near Clem Kelly softball diamonds.

So far, city leaders will likely decide which option to pursue this fall.

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