Too much water...

There are places in the United States that are short of water; there are other places where there is too much. What does a state do when there is too much, where flooding occurs resulting in damage to the environment and result in harm to property. One would assume that the state would take action if it were financially feasible and would not be a burden to the people in other ways. But what if harm would be generated away from the particular state?

In the State of North Dakota there is a lake surprisingly called Devil’s Lake. Over the last ten or so years, the water level has gone up several feet forcing many local residents to move. The local government has gone ahead to construct dikes and build up roads. Now, the State has entered the picture wanting to divert water from this lake to have it flow to the Missouri River and eventually ending up in Canada.

Many Canadians have environmental concerns and believe there is a strong possibility that polluted water would end up damaging the fishing industry in Manitoba. To prevent further flooding of North Dakota lands the State wants the Devil’s Lake outlet, without regarding the potential damage elsewhere. How just is this? It appears to be a “damn the torpedoes” situation. The Americans in North Dakota will plow ahead, but there will be consequences.

There is a treaty, the 1909 Boundary Waters Treaty, between Canada and the U.S. that addresses the question of either country sending pollutants across borders. No doubt, further studies need to be conducted; these research studies take time. In the interim, there will be more flooding and people will suffer.

Devil’s Lake will go down in history as an area with flooding problems that demanded a solution based on a comprehensive watershed management study. Whatever the final outcome might be, international treaties must be respected by all parties.

The area of Devil’s Lake is beautiful. Fishing on the lake is exceptional. The world’s leading outdoor magazine, Field & Stream has claimed the lake to be among the best in the United States; the northern pike and the walleyes abound. The ice fishermen claim it to be the “yellow perch capital of the world.” These facts do not bring joy to the residents of Manitoba.

North Dakota is part of “Indian country”. There are a number of reservations in the State and Devil’s Lake gave its name to the Devil’s Lake Sioux tribe. Later it was renamed to the Spirit Lake Sioux.

Times change and other names change as well. High school teams at Devil’s Lake had for nearly 80 years named their teams, the Satans. That name was dropped in 2002.