Gerald Fredriksen Sr., Minot
The winter of 2010-2011 caused high runoff into Rice Lake. This floods areas of Rice Lake, including road way on southeast corner of Rice Lake, which is Rice Lake's natural drainage. The N.D. State Water Board is contacted about possible allowing water to be pumped out of Rice Lake; they suggest that, due to flooding, for Rice Lake to temporarily pump to the south to natural drainage. Eventually this southeast corner will be sandbagged with large sandbags so property owners can access their cabins on the south end. Basically this will cancel any movement of water out of Rice Lake to natural drainage.
In mid-June Rice Lake Recreation Service District starts to drain Rice Lake by pumping uphill to the northeast on Ward County land. This land sits right on top of what is known as part of the Douglas Aquifer System. This is the start of a major problem as millions of gallons of water are pumped from June 15, 2011, until October 2011. Underground rivers and natural springs are over-activated due to tremendous pressures. By early July 2011 water starts to drain back through the hills on the east side of the lake. This runoff drains through properties on the east side of the lake, flows continually all winter (2011-2012) until the present time. The water never froze all winter across my beach area to about 6 feet into the lake.
Rice Lake rises all winter and spring of 2011-2012. By early spring, water levels are higher than spring of 2011 and this is basically with no runoff of winter moisture.
Underground streams flow from aquifers on the east and west side of Rice Lake and naturally flow from north to south with eventual drainage in the Douglas area.
During fall and winter of 2011-2012 a roadway was built across the southeast end of Rice Lake and a culvert was installed for drainage to the south. This culvert is plugged with a commercial plug, denying any drainage of Rice Lake to its natural drainage.
In March 2012 the Rice Lake Recreation Service District starts pumping uphill to northeast on county land.
On May 15, 2012, Ward County commissioners are told that effective May 17, 2012, the Rice Lake District will not be allowed to pump on Ward County land as they don't have a proper permit from the N.D. State Water Board to drain Rice Lake and pool its water.
The Rice Lake District got approval in July 2012 to start pumping again. Will this continue the process of recycling the water uphill above the lake and back to the lake?
This is costing a lot of money to taxpayers and will help to continue further flooding.
Where would we be as property owners if man hadn't compromised natural drainage and if pumps had never been started? Should we have left it to Mother Nature?