Threats
to the Sheyenne River include drainage projects
such as the Devils Lake outlet which will
introduce large amounts of saline water affecting
citizens living along its banks, the users of the
water, the groundwater, thousands of trees and
riparian habitat for wildlife. Be an informed
citizen.
This picture shows the
riparian area along the river's forested banks, a
scenic gem in southeastern North Dakota.
Interbasin transfer of salty waters, such as
Devils Lake waters, would kill the trees, pollute
the groundwater through seepage, introduce
nonnative biota and increase flood potential for
the area. Extended high waters would accelerate
bank erosion. This information is being presented
by People To Save The Sheyenne, a grass roots,
nonprofit organization formed in 1997.
EXCESSIVE SULFATES IN DEVILS LAKE WATERS TOO MUCH FOR THE
SHEYENNE RIVER. SALTY RESIDUES ACCUMULATE ON BANKS OF OUTLET PATH after
brief operation. OUTLET DID NOT
OPERATE REST OF YEAR (2005) and not at all in 2006. (more photos) To
date late 2007, operation removed 1/1000th of an inch.
The State Water
Commission doesn't plan
on lowering Devils Lake the "24 feet" it has risen since the drought
years. So- $28 million+ for an outlet to lower the lake,
not 24 feet,
(see link) plus annual
operating costs of $800,000 dollars -paid for by ND taxpayers.
Landowners adjacent to the lake will not
recover land under water-the pumping is planned to stop at 1445 feet. Land will not be
recovered for future use!
Outlet
remains Shut Down. May 2, 2006.
Sulfates in river too high; operators want to change the permit to
raise the amount of allowed salts for the outlet to operate.
People To Save The Sheyenne
and Manitoba LAUNCH LEGAL ACT OVER
DEVILS LAKE PROJECT Manitoba joins People To Save the Sheyenne
Health Dept. Appeal. March 29, 2004. (2 ND groups, Manitoba
sue. The province is also
considering taking its legal challenge to U.S. federal court.) March
30, 2004.
March 11, 2004. State Dept.
wants consultation on Devils Lake outlet. The letter from
State Dept. (pdf)
New
Secretary of State
Colin Powell Letter to General Flowers (Corps of Engineers) on Devils
Lake Outlet. January 20, 2004. pdf file
Secretary of State Colin Powell's
comments regarding
Devils Lake outlet and Boundary Waters Treaty of
1909 issue. Missouri sees connection between
Devils Lake Outlet and Garrison Diversion (DWRA-Dakota Water
Resources Act)
outlet/inlet plans that include connecting the
Missouri River to Sheyenne River including
inlet/outlet to Devils Lake. St. Louis Missouri
Post-Dispatch, August 24, 2003.
NOTICE INVITING SEALED PROPOSALS (BIDS)
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF
DEVILS LAKE EMERGENCY OUTLET FOR THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE WATER COMMISSION.
January 2004. Bids due Feb. 26, 2004.
Water Commission approves $19
million for Devils Lake outlet
By DALE WETZEL
Associated Press Writer - 12/05/2003
Spirit Lake Tribe
and Red
Lake Tribal Band, White Earth Band (MN) issue resolution regarding Mni
Wakan (Sacred Waters) and Devils Lake outlet/inlet (1997, 1998). Treaty Maps
1867.
Tribal and First Nations Joint
Resolution in Opposition to Proposed Devils Lake Outlet Projects,
April 26, 2004 New
Office of the ND State
Engineer: response
to approve a permit to build the State's
version of a Devils Lake
outlet, stating they will work toward an outlet which will operate
until water reaches a little more than a foot lower than it is now -
to 1445'.
They don't plan on lowering it the "24 feet" is has risen since the
drought years. So- $25+ million (recently up to $28 million-March,
2004) to lower the lake, not 24 feet but
1.4 feet. Plus operating costs of hundreds of thousands $$ per year.
Read the cover letter,
Administrative Order #03-4 and "Recommendations".
"State
Health Dept. Issues Permit."- permit #
2986to the ND State Water Commission to built and
operate an outlet from Devils Lake into the
Sheyenne River. Sept. 22 hearing was held in
Bismarck . Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources RE:
North Dakota Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System Permit ND 0026247
Sept. 19, 2003.
'A state outlet is a
misnomer'-the state can't build an
outlet by itself and should admit it.
Grand Forks Herald
Editorial. Posted on Fri,
March 7, 2003 story
'"We
may be
building
another Garrison Diversion here?"
he asked, referring to a separate,
unfinished project to move Missouri River
water through a channel to eastern North
Dakota.'
This comment spoken during
a State Water Commission meeting, March
5, 2003. AP article.
Big Water's power
play in N.D. March 5, 2003. Vicki
Voldal Roseneau Editorial. ND
Legislature: Taking tobacco monies and
using them for questionable water
projects, infringements of citizen's
rights thrown in.
..."Dispel the
...notion that a 1459msl outflow from Devils Lake
basin will produce a wall of water."...See Reports for this US Fish and Wildlife report.
More historical
information is included in another report showing
the State Water Commission
formally stating in 1976 that
additional wetland drainage in the Devils Lake
Basin from the Channel A project would contribute
significantly to the level of Devils Lake and
would increase the flooding potential to the City
of Devils Lake and thousands of acres of other
lands around the lake. (Agreement, Cost
Participation By The North Dakota State Water
Commission for the Construction of Channel 'A' in
Ramsey County.)
Did You Know:
the lake is more than a foot lower than it was in
2001?
Did You Know:
the lake only has risen approximately one foot
since 1999?Devils Lake Daily Values
Hydrograph
for the past 18 months-ending January 2003.
The
chances the precipitation events will repeat the
"wet future" is zero. It already is not
repeating that scenario. "The wet future'
scenario repeats the climatic and hydrologic
conditions for the seven highest inflow years in
recent history (1993-1999) for thee cycles,
causing the lake to overflow. ... the probability
that the lake will rise exactly this way is
zero..." -- Final Devils Lake North Dakota
Integrated Planning Report and Environmental
Impact Statement, Pages 5-55, 5-56. Final
Environmental Impact Statement and Integrated
Planning Report. April 2003 is issued by Corps of
Engineers. http://www.health.state.nd.us/Rulemaking/DevilsLakeOutletDischargePermit/DevilsLakeEIS/
Corps
of Engineers Press Release Feb. 26, 2003
regarding Preferred
Alternative,
newspaper announcement with comments from
Senators Dorgan, Conrad.
Conditions include "if the lake
keeps rising..." "estimated costs are
$186.5 million..." "Dorgan said
the money would likely not be budgeted by
Congress any sooner than next year."
Identifying a "Preferred Alternative"
is NOT A RECOMMENDATION TO CONSTRUCT AN OUTLET. Any recommendation
will be issued only after the EIS is completed
and the "Record of Decision" which
follows will contain recommendations. The Final
EIS is scheduled to be released in April. The
State of ND states it will continue with their
own plans for an outlet.
"... it is difficult, if not impossible, for
the state to support a project that includes
unnecessary and expensive additions that are
designed to address remote 'what if''
risks." -- State of North statement to the
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, January 3, 2003.
Final Devils Lake North Dakota Integrated
Planning Report and Environmental Impact
Statement, Page 9-2.
HCR3039 was passed through the
North Dakotas Legislature and sent on April 23 to
the Secretary of State for distribution.Comment on this action,
constitutionality questions. MEASURE ACTION"A
concurrent resolution strongly encouraging the
Governor, Attorney General, State Water
Commission, and state agencies to continue
aggressive action against individuals,
organizations, and entities interfering with the
development and progress of state water projects,
including the Northwest Area Water Supply
Project, the Southwest Pipeline Project, Devils
Lake flooding, delivery of water to eastern North
Dakota, development of water resources for
irrigation purposes,..."
Application of State Water
Commission for a 402 Permit to Discharge Water from
Devils Lake into Sheyenne River: Comment period
until May 21, 2003. State Health Dept. There
is also a link to review the state's
Antidegradation rule worksheet (pdf).
Corps
Budget for Devils Lake outlet cut. March 26, 2003. Corps estimate cost
$186.5 million, with 65% federal and 35% state
(local) cost share plus estimated local operation
costs of $3 million. No
federal money included in budget for Devils Lake outlet project for
Corps. Feb. 4, 2003.
State of ND,
State Water Commission go ahead with building a
pump station, to begin outlet
construction
Spring 2003.
Reports- Links to
Information by Wetlands Initiative, US
Geological Survey, US Fish & Wildlife, Corps
of Engineers, ND State Water Commission, National
Audubon Society.
Two outlet
plans to bring
water from the Devils Lake basin into the
Sheyenne River are being investigated: One by the
State of North Dakota (bring in West Bay waters)
and one by the US Army Corps of Engineers (called
the Pelican Lake alternative, which is connected
to West Bay waters, so is still Devils Lake
water). Will they both be adding water to the
Sheyenne and how much? You may ask, "What can I
do?":
Action Alert
(click here)
Draft
Environmental Impact Statement comments
submitted
against outlet plans: from Manitoba, MN Dept. of
Health, MCEA, Missouri, National Wildlife
Federation, EPA, Dacotah Chapter of Sierra Club,
National Audubon Society and People To Save the
Sheyenne. AP News Releases May 9 / May 10 Regarding EPA (against outlet)
comment on Draft Environmental Impact Statement
of Corps on Devils Lake outlet proposed project. Premier
Doer
of Manitoba comments on EPA announcement (May 9) reactions from North Dakota's politicians
(May 9) on EPA's first press release, then EPA's
"adjusted" press release,. May 10, 2002. All comments submitted to the
Corps.
See Barnes County
Emergency Manager comment-
"Canary in a Coal Mine".
Corps
study examines cost-benefit of DL outlet-finds a 75% chance the
outlet considered would cost more than the damage
it would prevent. (AP) "...riprap
and other measures would be required to reduce
erosion downstream, where water quality also
would suffer."...
People to Save the
Sheyenne seek legal avenues to ensure the State of North
Dakota will complete impact studies.
The State of North Dakota is still pursuing its
own plan for an outlet, with its own timeline and
discharge amounts from Devils Lake into the
Sheyenne River. (See Mythbusters)
Devils Lake will not run into the
Sheyenne River naturally until it reaches 1459'
above sea level. View USGS
Elevation Map for a cross-section view of the area and
view sulfate levels for Devils Lake, Stump Lakes
and the Sheyenne River..
This means that the lake will not
overflow naturally into the river until the
lake adds approx. 11' more in depth, and it
will have to double in surface area.
This means that for every
additional foot the lake raises, it has to add
much more water per foot to achieve an elevation
rise than at previous shallower levels.
Devils Lake is not currently
overflowing into the Sheyenne River.
Estimates done by USGS calculate only a 1.8%
chance of this happening.
IF this 11' raise should
occur, it is also estimated that it will take
until 2015 to get that high. This does not
make an overflow imminent.
Read the documentation enclosed in
this web site for more in-depth data, reports,
maps and information.
People To Save The Sheyenne feel
that no extra drainage waters should be
deliberately channeled into the river from Devils
Lake while alternatives have not been thoroughly
implemented to restrain the inflows
into Devils Lake.
On Dec. 3, 2001 People To Save the
Sheyenne passed a resolution indicating the group's position on
any outlet into the Sheyenne River, whether built by the State of
North Dakota or the Corps of Engineers:
Be It Resolved: People To Save the Sheyenne will not
consider supporting any outlet in any form until an Environmental
Impact Statement that is in compliance with the National
Environmental Policy Act has been completed.
a grassroots, nonprofit
group organized in 1997 to save the Sheyenne River from
threats that would damage its waters, communities and
wildlife. Printed brochures are available to interested
persons. Contact: Membership
Application/Legal
Fund Donation.
Officers and Steering
Committee members:January 2008— December
2009
Decades of "water
management" has formed the Devils Lake watershed basin into what it is now: 2.6 m million acres of contributing land connected through 22,700 drainsinto Devils
Lake. Devils Lake fluctuates with annual rain and snow amounts
and has no natural
outlet below 1459 feet above sea level.
As massive drainage channels have connected several watershed
areas,, the increased amount of runoff water and precipitation
collected in Devils Lake has accumulated higher than is usual
during recent years. Devils Lake has not overflowed into the
Sheyenne River for thousands of years. This increased drainage
along with added precipitation has resulted in Devils Lake
raising 18 feet from
1987 to 2003. Some of this raise can be
attributed to high precipitation as most of eastern North Dakota
has seen during this time, but nowhere else has it risen to that
extent. Some of this rise, however, can be attributed to
aggressive drainage programs, funneling vast amounts of water
into the now connected massive network of channels, coulees, road
ditches and culverts, upper basin lakes and finally into Devils
Lake. As the elevated water level of Devils Lake has inundated
land, farms, homes and businesses since 1993 high precipitation
events began, cropland has been lost to flooding and homes and
businesses have been vacated or moved. The
upper basin draining continues, regardless of concerns of
flooding in the lower basin.
People To Save the Sheyenne suggest that the following
alternatives be investigated thoroughly. An outlet is not the
only or the best answer to long term drainage practices or to
future flooding potential. We want:
To suggest studies examine outlet proposals for
findings of environmental impacts and benefit/cost ratios
before building an outlet- for those that would benefit
from an outlet as well as for those that will be
negatively impacted by an outlet.
To suggest closing drains as they speed water to
the lake which adds to the rising lake level problem.
During the fall of 2002, the daily volume of Little
Coulee inflow to Devils Lake exceeded the flow of the
Sheyenne River.
To suggest studies be done to examine the effects
of 22,700 drains in the upper Devils Lake basin and to
publish the findings.
To suggest alternatives
to an outlet:
restoring wetlands that have been drained or storing
water so waters don't rush to the lake without
evaporation to reduce volumes. The current Draft EIS of
the Corps of Engineers doesn't include any exploration of
any alternatives other than building an outlet to attempt
to solve the flooding problems of Devils Lake and
surrounding farming and residential areas. Programs to
address the problems of excessive inflows would function
in the upper Devils Lake basin, where the draining waters
are coming from. This would help hold back water
for:
evaporation from the increased surface
acres exposed to the air, where as much
as 30 " will evaporate over a
summer;
infiltration into the ground; and
transpiration by plants into the air.
5. To suggest that local and state water management
policies regarding draining be examined and be
responsive when it is damaging to those downstream.
Existing drainage laws and rules should be enforced.
Myths vs. Mythbusters. Environmental studies and economic impacts haven't
been completed, as required by NEPA. Downstream interests have
much to lose if excessive water is funneled to the Sheyenne
River. Nature
& Wildlife./
Why An Outlet Won't Work Will the proposed outlets be
effective in removing the high water problems around Devils Lake?
Will they be cost effective? Will flooding in the Devils Lake
area be replaced with flooding along the Sheyenne River? What
will happen to the trees, wildlife and groundwater along the
river? What will happen to the farms and small communities along
the river?
"...A point of significant interest to the
public and to government agencies is whether constructing an
outlet to the Red River will result in adverse ecological,
economic, and natural resource impacts in the Red River Basin
from downstream movement of damaging biota...." The report
finds that much information is unknown about the potential
impacts to the Sheyenne and Red River systems from outlet waters.
Drains
Map Devils Lake Basin map
showing drains by township. Provided by the ND State Water
Commission. Do these drains contribute to the accumulated waters
in the Devils Lake area? Over 22,700 drains in the upper basin
now funnel runoff into various large drainage ditches, such as
Channel A, Mauvais Coulee, Edmore Coulee, Starkweather, Big
Coulee and Little Coulee into the closed basin of Devils Lake.
The coulees, ditches and enhanced drains reduce chances of
evaporation off the land, where instead the waters rush to Devils
Lake. During times of high precipitation such as has been
occurring in recent years, this drainage has added enough water
to add several feet to Devils Lake.
There are estimated
to be 189,000 acres of drained wetlands,
according to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, and unnatural drainage has added several feet to the
elevation of Devils Lake. U. S. Fish & Wildlife Planning Aid Letter
(PAL), May 24, 1999 provides
input. This information was requested by the Corps of Engineers
of the Fish and Wildlife Service in examination of a Devils Lake
Emergency Outlet Design Study. Recommendations include dispelling
the myth of a 14' wall of water, examining effects of drainage on
the lake elevation, and exploring other alternatives than an
outlet as a solution to the high water in the Devils Lake basin
area.
A Warning of
Flooding Potential.
Devils
Lake Drainage Project*Read the full text of a June, 1965 editorial by
former ND Wildlife Federation president Sid Brashears, warning of
the future impacts of so much draining in the Devils Lake basin. Watershed Map
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