according to the red river basin task force news, the red river flood of 1997 "deserved the superlative, the 'flood of the century'." the flood along the red river of the north in north dakota, minnesota, and southern manitoba, in april and may 1997 was the most severe red river flood since 1826. the international joint commission (ijc)'s 1998 report warned that although the 1997 red river flood had a "return interval ranging from 100 to 500 years, depending on the location", there was a "statistical probability of a similar flood each year." it was the most severe flood of the river since 1826.