Devils Lake has hit 14-hundred-50 feet and continues to rise into record territory.

Yesterday we showed you some of the troubles the lake is causing around the city of Devils Lake.

But damage from rising water is widespread - stretching into farm fields and neighboring towns.

Jim Olson reports on the battle to keep the Benson County seat on dry ground.

The rising water of Devils Lake forced the relocation of the town of Churchs Ferry in 2003. Now, people of Minnewaukan, the Benson County seat, are fighting to avoid the same fate.

(Rita Staloch, Minnewaukan City Council) "We lost the Football field several years ago. The lake used to be eight miles away and now it's right in town."


And Minnewaukan city council member Rita Staloch says it's not just Devils Lake's waters from east of town causing problems.

(Rita Staloch, Minnewaukan City Council) "We've got water coming in from every direction."


Coulees that feed the lake are overflowing and may force as many as a dozen homes to be abandoned or moved on the south and west sides of town.

(Rita Staloch, Minnewaukan City Council) "The ones in the north end were moved in 2001 and 2002 when the lake came up that large amount. And now the ones that are in low lying areas are mostly in the south and the west."


Minnewaukan officials are moving ahead with a 400-thousand dollar project to upgrade the sewer system in an effort to reduce basement backups and other problems.

(Rita Staloch, Minnewaukan City Council) "Our sewer project should keep us going through this year. If next year we get another three or four foot rise we may have to revisit the situation because the fix we have now may not be enough."


Staloch worries that if there's another year of rising water - the town may face relocation. And that's something she thinks the school and its 50 employees may not survive.

(Rita Staloch, Minnewaukan City Council) "We have a lot of young teachers that have purchased homes in town and would like to stay here and keep working here. The school I do not believe would be rebuilt if the town had to be moved."


And so Minnewaukan will keep on fighting - even as highways such as this one are abandoned and relocated because of the advancing water - hoping the lake finally finds its high point - and starts dropping again.

Staloch says federal flood insurance will only pay the costs of moving a home due to flooding in Minnewaukan if the homeowner has held flood insurance since 1999. watch the video | save this article / add to your favorites list