The proposed alignment of a dam to protect the city of Devils Lake will be the topic of a public meeting May 21 in the Ramsey County Courthouse in Devils Lake.
The project, which is likely to cost $80 million to $100 million, will convert the present dike into a dam, raise it to an elevation of 1,466.2 feet above sea level and extend it to protect more areas outside of the city. The present dike is built to an elevation of 1,455 feet, plus 5 feet of freeboard.
The meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is in charge of the project, will present the proposed alignment and outline steps to address spring rising water issues.
In addition, Corps officials will be available from 2 to 5 p.m. May 21 and from 8 a.m. to noon May 22. To schedule a time to meet, call Kevin Bluhm, at the Corps' St. Paul office, (651) 290-5247.
The lake was at an elevation of about 1,449.8 feet Friday, about a week after surpassing the previous record of 1,449.22 feet April 1. The National Weather Service predicts the lake will reach an elevation of 1,451.3 feet this summer.
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The 15-year flood fight already has cost almost $600 million, to pay for raising roads and protecting utilities such as sewer systems, water sources and electrical power lines. About 220 homes or businesses have been relocated, some of them more than once.
The lake has risen more than 25 feet in elevation since 1993 and more than tripled in size in that time. At 1,448.8 feet, it covers an estimated 137,000 acres. At 1,451.3 feet, it would cover more than 158,000 acres, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
