Basin Commission Wants Task Force For DL Flooding

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (AP) - The Red River Basin Commission is

encouraging the formation of an international task force to find a

solution to the flooding that has plagued Devils Lake for 17 years.

Meanwhile, the threatened town of Minnewaukan is seeking state

and federal help to move out of harm's way.

Devils Lake has tripled in size since 1993 because of wet years

and hit record levels, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in

damage. A west-end outlet drains some floodwaters into the Sheyenne

River and ultimately the Red. Area residents are now pushing

federal officials for an east-end outlet.

The Red River Basin Commission has members from North Dakota,

Minnesota and the Canadian province of Manitoba. They toured the

flooded Devils Lake region this week. They stopped short of

endorsing an east-end outlet, instead calling for an international

solution.

Tags: devils lake, daily updates, flooding, lake, minnewaukan