Budget Hearing Focuses on Challenges in Devils Lake

Press Release

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad chaired an official field hearing of the Senate Budget Committee today to get on the record the various challenges confronting families and business owners in the Devils Lake Basin. Senator Conrad was joined by Senator John Hoeven to hear from community leaders about flooded farm lands, at risk roadways, and threatened rail lines.

"While many areas across the state are getting a much-needed reprieve this year after back-to-back-to-back floods, the threat to Devils Lake remains," Chairman Conrad said. "I have fought for more than $1 billion in federal resources to address issues in the basin during my time in Washington. This federal help has been critical in mitigating the flooding impacts. However, it is clear in these tough budget times that securing continued assistance will be increasingly difficult, making today's hearing all the more important."

"To date, we have worked to bring more than $400 million in federal funding to Devils Lake, but the reality is we all need to work together, on every level of government, to address ongoing flooding in the basin," Hoeven said. "That consists of a three-part comprehensive plan that includes storing water where possible, raising roads and dikes and moving water out of Devils Lake."

Senators Conrad and Hoeven acknowledged farmers and landowners in the Devils Lake basin have taken one of the biggest hits in this disaster. Family after family have seen their land, homesteads and livelihoods consumed by this runaway lake. Senator Conrad has fought to secure federal funding to compensate landowners, including access to the Wetlands Reserve Program.

A group consisting of local, state and federal officials, working with leadership from BNSF and Amtrak devised a plan last year to raise the rail line and bridges near Devils Lake and keep the Empire Builder running while work is underway. Amtrak and BNSF have each agreed to pay one-third of the $97.4 million to raise the rail line.

Among those testifying at today's hearing were: Devils Lake City Mayor Dick Johnson; Ramsey County Commissioner Joe Belford; Spirit Lake Nation Chairman Roger Yankton. (Invited, Not Confirmed); Nelson County Chair Odell Flaagan; Minnewaukan Mayor Mark Motis (Invited, Not Confirmed); and Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Resource Board Chair John Elsperger.

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