Land-management staff reported Sept. 25 that flowage easements and other needed rights-of-way have reached about 63% completion (rounded) across the project footprint, a 3.3% increase from the prior report.
Justin (land-management lead, last name not specified in transcript) said green areas on the project map denote completed easements, orange indicates parcels currently subject to eminent-domain filings and blue indicates properties still under negotiation. He reported the authority closed on three parcels in the upstream mitigation area (UMA) last month, has seven outstanding settlement offers under negotiation and is currently involved in at least one eminent-domain trial this week. Justin said the authority completed its first eminent-domain trial last month and has negotiated several settlements outside of court since then.
Staff also said they circulated the PRAM (Property Right Acquisition and Mitigation) document to state agencies and the Army Corps of Engineers for concurrence, continue to process six parcels through the authority’s excess-land disposal policy and maintain relocation and rent-payment services for affected owners on both the Minnesota and North Dakota sides.
No board action was taken; staff said they will return with updates as additional settlements complete or court actions resolve.