Democratic Congressman Earl Pomeroy was on a fact-finding mission Saturday morning in Devils Lake.
He was seeking an update on water level conditions and infrastructure conditions in the Lake Region since the Lake Summit held here a number of weeks ago.
What he found from a number of city and county officials on hand for the gathering at the White House Cafe was that things certainly aren’t getting better.
So in an encouraging note for the region, he said there are things going on at the highest levels of the government.
After the North Dakota delegation conversed with an Interagency Task Force, it was learned that a plan will be formulated by July and on the table by August.
“Vice President Joe Biden has always been intrigued by this situation - a closed basin lake,” Pomeroy said. “So this thing has support from the top levels, with the Director of the OMB in charge.”
Pomeroy stressed that the situation has changed dramatically from the 1990’s when the lake began its dramatic rise.
He said there have now been very frank discussions to make sure all branches of government are involved in ongoing dialogue for solutions to the problem.
There is a game plan moving forward that will evolve even with a new Director of OMB ready to take office.
There remains a real possibility that the Task Force will have to come to Devils Lake to probe the problem.
“The ‘90’s are now the ‘old days’ in this fight,” added Pomeroy. “There is now senior leadership involved, but the problems are tougher.”
In the past it was said the OMB didn’t really understand the complexities of the problem, but now has a clearer sense to help solve the issue.
Water quality remains an issue, especially for those downstream.
But it is becoming clearer every day that a solution must be developed to prevent a catastrophic over flow of the lake which would be a disaster to all of the state.
Right now it is being dealt with through upper basin storage, protecting the city and raising roads.
County Commissioner Joe Belford says he has reports the lake is slowly expanding to the east because of aquifier problems below.
“The delegation and OMB are seriously wrestling with this thing, and the two will meet this week,” added Pomeroy.
“I’d like to credit Devils Lake leadership with their perseverance through this whole thing.”
Belford and Mayor Dick Johnson were forceful in their talk with Pomeroy, trying to stress the timeliness and importance of needed action.
Belford detailed to Pomeroy all the work under way in the region and Water Board Commissioner Paul Becker talked of the many road problems in his area.
“The problems are great, and the options few,” he said. “We need dialogue. The idea of an east end uncontrolled overflow is very real.”
He continued, “There is a possibility this lake could go up another foot before freezeup.”
Johnson added the misinformation he knows about and lack of understanding are troubling.
He thinks a lot of people don’t grasp the magnitude of the problem and stressed there’s got to be give and take.
Becker added his concern over mitigation of wetlands, which Pomeroy said will be addressed by the Task Force.
“We’re dealing with a very tough phenomenon and we’ve got to have the options on the table,” the Congressman added.
“This is an iminent crisis which is outside the realm for all of us, and we’re working our way through it. A federal solution is not easy, but it demands attention.”
“We’ve got the best we have working on it.”
Devils Lake, ND —
