U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton Says Devils Lake Decision Could Have "Irreversible&Qu

Dayton told Rice the state of North Dakota "intends to ignore those risks and Canada's and Minnesota's expressed objections." The outlet will connect flooded Devils Lake with the Sheyenne River, a tributary of the Red, which serves as the boundary between Minnesota and North Dakota and flows north in Manitoba. The outlet is expected to begin moving water as soon as early July. North Dakota water officials say the outlet won't eliminate Devils Lake floodwaters but instead is intended to stabilize the lake and help prevent further flooding. But Dayton said the matter should go to the International Joint Commission, a group with representatives from the United States and Canada established in 1909 to resolve disputes over boundary waters. Both sides must refer a dispute for the IJC's review. "Once it begins to discharge its water into the Red River," Dayton wrote about the outlet, "the effects will be irreversible, as will its damage to the relationship between the two countries." Full article: http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/11888587.htm [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on June 14, 2005]

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