Byron Dorgan

One of the interests of this subcommittee, because we spend a lot of money on water issues around the country, is where will that funding come from?

Devils Lake has risen 27 feet since 1993.

I have included, I think, the single largest appropriation that has ever been moved from our subcommittee...

I happen to agree with Joe and you and others--that the potential of coming over the divide naturally has devastating consequences to a lot of the downstream areas, so we want to try to prevent that.

It seems to me if you've got a bathtub that's full and you're working on the drain to let some water out you need to work on the faucet to stop some coming in.

I don't think anybody in this room believes or understands that this outlet that exists is not going to release some water.

Senator Dorgan, thank you for holding this hearing and allowing me to speak.

Thank you for holding this hearing and allowing me to speak.

But when the outlet was built, there were projections I know from the Water Commission and the Health Department in terms of how it would operate and then it didn't operate for some significant amount of time.

We do not believe in our area that enough studies have been done as to what's going to happen down the road.

That would cost you $45 million?

All right. Thanks for being available. I have a couple of other questions as well.

Let's assume that lake is at 1,455, which spreads dramatically from its current level and consumes far more acreage and so on.

The testimony of the mayor in Fargo, and I suspect that the concern of Valley City and probably West Fargo, about the issue of treatment is because from their perspective they anticipate that there will be higher levels of sulfates…

Not interested in transferring the problem from one region of our state to another.

. . . I have always insisted, I am not interested in transferring the problems from one region of our state to another.

I am not interested in transferring the problems from one region of our State to another.

Transferring water problems from one region of North Dakota to another is not acceptable.

ARRA is the economic stimulus?

The city of Devils Lake fully supports efforts from the North Dakota Department of Health and the North Dakota State Water Commission to remove additional water from the lake to reduce flood damages.

If Fargo, for example, and others determine that they need for their own reasons to build a $45 million treatment plant, where would the money come from for that and is there a commitment from the State to fund that?

Again, I want to underscore our commitment to protect the interests not only of Devils Lake, but of Valley City, Lisbon, Fargo, west Fargo, and all of our communities along the Sheyenne and Red Rivers.

I support all the efforts that we can make to take water off of the lake as you know.

Your efforts to achieve a comprehensive solution to the Devils Lake flooding situation are greatly appreciated.

In my judgment, it is a shameful disrespect for good government to block nominations for month after month after month.