farmers claimed that the dyke interfered with the international drainage agreement, while the municipality replied that dykes on the American side caused increased run-off into Canada. 22

Feelings reached a high point in 1966 when the dyke was dyna­ mited by U. S. officials causing a flash flood in the Halbstadt area. Municipal-provincial relations became further strained when it was revealed that the Manitoba Minister of Agriculture had consented to breaching the dyke without warning the farmers in Rhineland. 23 In 1975 the border dyke was again mysteriously broken resulting in another flash flood in the Halbstadt area.

In 1983 the municipal council also took steps to improve drainage on the Aux Marais River by cleaning out the bottom of the drain with municipal equipment. It was hoped that this would provide some relief from flooding until the provincial government, who has jurisdiction over the drain, could complete the reconstruction job.

To prevent flooding of their lands in the early 1970's Halbstadt area farmers built a dyke on the International Boundary keeping most of the water on the United States side. Culverts in the dyke only let water through as fast as the Aux Marais system could handle it, causing differential water levels of up to four feet. This caused considerable conflict between Rhineland and North Dakota farmers, and in 1974 a 20 foot break in the earthen dyke mysteriously occurred at the height of that year's flood. This break caused flood levels in the Halbstadt area 2% feet higher than in 1950.

Credit: Echo

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