Devils Lake Rising for 13 Years

While trying to find news on the heavy rain in the northern Plains Friday night, I ran across this.

While trying to find news on the heavy rain in the northern Plains Friday night (see map at right -- I never did find any news), I ran across this. It seems the water in Devil's Lake, North Dakota [map] has been rising for 13 years -- and won't stop. The surrounding area's drought has not affected it. The article didn't give a reason for the rise but the state of ND says that the rise is part of a normal geological cycle (and has additional facts in a PDF.

Here are some highlights:

- Lake has risen 26 feet since 1993
- Could rise another 11 feet by 2012
- Volume of water has quadrupled since 1993
- 1000 residents (10% of the population) have left the town
- 400 students have left the district
- 75,000 acres of private land under water
- Levees have cost $50 million so far
- Total cost including moving roads, rail and power lines: $450m

Real-time data from USGS gauges at the site are available, in fact they have a whole website about Devil's Lake, including photographs.

Joe Belford looks towards a former subdivision Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006. in Devils Lake, N.D. Belford, a Devils Lake business owner, said there used to be dozens of luxury homes in the subdivision before rising waters forced them to be moved. Devils Lake has risen about 26 feet since 1993. If it keeps rising and its wet cycle continues, it could rise another 11 feet by 2012, taking more homes and livelihoods with it. (AP Photo/Will Kincaid)