DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (AP) – The water board representing counties
in the Devils Lake basin has dropped its sponsorship of a proposed
floodwater outlet from Stump Lake.
     Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Resource Board manager Jeff Frith
says  the move came after the state increased the cost estimate from $17 million to $23.5 million.

Frith says the board still favors the idea of the outlet but the local share of
the cost would be too high.
     Stump Lake has become connected to Devils Lake after two decades
of flooding.

The proposed Stump Lake outlet would complement outlets on Devils Lake’s west and east sides.
     State Water Commissioner engineer Bruce Engelhardtsays  he doesn’t immediately know what the local water board’s decision will mean for the proposed project.