The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public input on how to protect the city of Devils Lake if its lake should dramatically begin to rise again.
An open house to discuss alternatives is scheduled from 3 to 7 p.m. Oct. 22 in the basement of the Ramsey County Courthouse in Devils Lake.
"We want to include residents in the process, so we have scheduled this meeting while the alignments are still very rough," Corps Project Manager Bonnie Greenleaf said in a press release.
The lake's elevation at noon Tuesday was 1,446.53 feet and rising from Monday's rainfall and runoff. In May 2006, the lake level reached 1449.2 feet, about 24.6 feet higher than in February 1993.
Studies so far show reliable protection would require modifications to Devils Lake's embankment system. No land acquisitions are in the works yet. Maps of the potential alignments are available online at www.mvp.usace.army.mil/devilslake .
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"The existing embankment is in very good condition," said Mike Grafsgaard, Devils Lake city engineer. The city's dike system protects it up to 1,460 feet.
The area of greatest concern is south of the city, including Acorn Ridge, Lakewood and Camp Grafton. The Corps said the uncertainty is because of many complex factors including ground elevation, ponding areas, groundwater issues, underground utilities and existing homes.
"If the lake continues to rise, the impact on the community will be significant," Greenleaf said. "Advance planning is critical."
Capt. Adam Rasmussen of the Corps said the input will be critical in determining who wants protection, at what point Devils Lake residents will be required to buy flood insurance and how to pay additional costs. He said if Devils Lake begins to significantly rise again, embankments would be raised in two stages.
"The first stage would be 5 feet," Rasmussen said. "We haven't finished our final calculations, but the second stage could put the ultimate elevation at 1,471.2 feet."
The bottom line is being prepared, according to Ramsey County Commissioner Joe Belford.
