DEVILS LAKE, ND ( KXNET ) — The North Dakota Department of Water Resources (DWR) has begun its annual discharge operations of the state-owned Devils Lake outlets.

The Devils Lake West End Outlet was constructed in 2005, and was followed by the East End Outlet in 2012 after the lake reached a record elevation of 1454.3 feet in 2011. Ever since its construction, the lake’s water level has slowly declined over time, barring abnormally wet seasons as we have seen in previous years.

In April, the Devils Lake Outlets Management Advisory Committee voted to run both outlets at full capacity during the operating season. According to a press release from the DWR. while the group intended to begin outlet operations over the last week, overnight freezing temperatures delayed their efforts until Monday, May 6.

“As we begin the 2024 outlets’ operating season,” DWR Director Andrea Travnicek said, “we remain committed to removing as much flood water as possible from Devils Lake.”

The West End Outlet is currently being discharged at 200 cubic feet per second — and that the East End Outlet could start running as early as next week. At full capacity, the combined outlets can discharge a total of 600 cubic feet per second, as opposed to the maximum output of 400 during the summer of 2023. Throughout the operation, downstream channel capaciy and water quality will be monitored, and may limit total releases depending on conditions.

As of the morning of May 6, 2024, the lake’s elevation has been recorded as 1,449.4 feet.

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