WILLISTON – The City of Williston announced approval by the Williston City Commission of a one-year professional services agreement with Nexxus Consulting to assist the city with federal coordination related to the Williston levee.

Recently updated federal flood-risk modeling shows higher river levels due to natural changes in the Missouri River system. Because of this, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has determined that Williston’s levee no longer meets current Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood protection accreditation standards, even though the levee was rebuilt after the 2011 flood to the standards in place at that time, according to the city.

If FEMA accreditation is not maintained, the change could impact about 400-500 homes currently shown as protected. This could trigger new flood map designations, potentially requiring mandatory flood insurance, increasing insurance premiums and affecting existing mortgage and future loan obligations for property owners. These impacts extend beyond homeowners to local businesses and overall property values.

The city reported its goal is to work directly with federal partners to address this issue long-term, protect public infrastructure and minimize future impacts to residents and businesses. Nexxus Consulting will help the city coordinate with Congress, the Corps of Engineers and FEMA to pursue federal authorization, funding opportunities and temporary flexibility while long-term solutions are developed.

The agreement is structured as a one-year contract at $7,500 per month with a 30-day termination clause. While this is expected to be a multi-year federal process, the city intends to pursue reimbursement of eligible costs where possible.

The city stated it continues to work closely with AE2S Engineering, state agencies and federal partners to ensure Williston remains proactive in protecting the community and its critical infrastructure.