 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it's moving ahead with a plan to flood diversion project to protect the Fargo-Moorhead area, even though Minnesota denied a key permit for the project. The Corps said in a statement Wednesday it anticipates awarding its first contract for the project this month. It'll be for building a diversion inland in North Dakota to help protect the Red River Valley from floods that have plagued the area over the years. No construction is planned in Minnesota until 2019. The Corps says it's committed to working with Minnesota to address its concerns and completing the project, but the St. Paul District Commander Colonel Sam Culkin says relying on emergency measures such as sandbagging as Minnesota regulators advocate is not a long-term solution. He says the potential loss of life and economic losses that would result if emergency measures fail are not acceptable. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.