Devils Lake outlet could pump more next summer

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota's state Water Commission engineer says the Devils Lake outlet could begin pumping more water by next June.

Engineer Dale Frink said the commission is working to get new pumps delivered by May and increase the outlet's power supply.

Frink said the changes would allow the outlet to pump 250 cubic feet of water per second and move up to 6 inches of water off the flooded lake under ideal conditions. He said the outlet, running at about 100 cfs, moved about 2 inches of water off the lake this year.

Opponents of the outlet scheduled a news conference in Valley City to present petitions asking that it be halted. They worry about the quality of water coming into the Sheyenne River.

The outlet has 14 miles of open channels, pipes and pumping stations to send water from the lake into the Sheyenne.