Red River Basin Disaster Information Network
On-Line Workshop
December 21, 2000 -- 12:00 PM CST

Final Report of the International Flood Mitigation Initiative for the Red River Basin

Chuck Mrena
C. Mrena Consulting, Ltd.

Online Transcript
Slides: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15

The genesis of the International Flood Mitigation Initiative (IFMI) lies in the devastating 1997 Red River flood. Since then, three consecutive years of spring and summer tributary flooding -- in many areas as bad or worse than flooding in 1997 -- and the disastrous flood that struck Fargo in the summer of 2000 have had a sobering effect on residents and communities in the Red River Basin. This recent round of flooding has reinforced the commitment of IFMI participants to develop and implement an integrated strategy for flood damage reduction that encompasses the entire watershed. IFMI participants committed themselves early on to practical actions that go beyond making recommendations.

IFMI's final meeting took place November 15, 2000. Fourteen basin-wide specific strategies were developed, with implementation underway.

IFMI Final Report Executive Summary (PDF file, 29 KB)
11/15/00 Government of Manitoba Press Release
IFMI Web pages
6/10/99 IFMI On-line Workshop

About Chuck Mrena
Chuck is a native of Manitoba and a graduate of the Natural Resources Institute of the University of Manitoba. He has 25 years of experience in natural resources and environmental management. He is experienced in sustainable development policy development, pesticide use and management and resource conservation processes. In addition to IFMI, over the past two years Chuck has worked with
the Manitoba Conservation Districts in the identification and development of Protected areas, and with the Canadian Department of National Defence in environmental and natural resources policy development and in the protection of endangered spaces.

Chuck is an experienced facilitator and has worked with Rural Municipalities in Manitoba, and in Devils Lake, North Dakota, in that capacity. As
a policy analyst, he has been involved in the review of sustainable agricultural practices within the Great Plains region, including water management issues. He also consults in the rehabilitation and remediation of disturbed lands and contaminated sites, as well as in revegetation efforts and erosion control.