Governor says more than one answer for Devils Lake flooding

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (AP) Governor John Hoeven says more than one answer is needed to solve the problem of Devils Lake flooding, and he's open to looking at the possibility of treating water on the lake's east end.

Hoeven says he wants to increase the capacity of the state's Devils Lake outlet. He says the idea of an east end outlet could be considered, but it would be costly to build because the water would have to be treated to be sent downstream.

Water on the east end of Devils Lake generally is the poorest quality water in the lake.

Hoeven and members of the state Water Commission came to Devils Lake today for a tour of the basin.

Ramsey County Commissioner Joe Belford estimates the damage from lake flooding now tops 1 billion dollars. He says he's studying the cost of building another outlet at the Tolna Coulee, along with a water treatment plant. But he knows it won't be cheap.

Information from: Eric Arndt, KZZY-FM, http://lrradioworks.com; Dave Thompson, KCND-FM, www.prairiepublic.org (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 06-24-09 1548CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list