News Releases for November 2005
November 16, 2005
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Hoeven: Devils Lake Biota Study Turns Up No Species Of Concern
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven today announced that a joint United States-Canadian biological study of Devils Lake overseen by the U.S. Council on Environmental Quality has turned up no species of concern regarding the state's Devils Lake outlet, supporting North Dakota's contention that the outlet does not pose a threat to downstream waters.
A list of 12 targeted species of concern was agreed upon for study by all groups and, according to the report, none of the targeted biota were recorded or collected during the survey. Sampling was conducted July 25 through July 30, 2005.
Manitoba has also issued a separate report, largely in concurrence with the joint report, indicating that while none of the 12 invasive species targeted in the study were found, there may be biota of potential concern to the province. These biota were not listed in the joint report as a species of concern, and in fact may already exist downstream. The team did not test downstream waters or Lake Winnipeg for their existence. The province has been continuing to press for a more sophisticated filter at the outlet, which North Dakota has not objected to, providing construction doesn't impede the operation of the outlet or incur costs to the State of North Dakota.
"We have studied Devils Lake biota for more than 10 years - just two years ago with the Army Corps of Engineers, and now through a collaborative effort with a range of state, provincial and federal agencies, and the reality is that none of those studies have found aquatic nuisance species," Hoeven said. "We will continue our monitoring protocol, and the operation of the outlet, as agreed to last August."
Sampling was conducted by staff from the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, North Dakota Game and Fish Department, North Dakota Department of Health, Manitoba Water Stewardship, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service surveyed fish from Devils Lake for pathogens and parasites following the National Wild Fish Health Survey protocols.
Copies of the joint report and related U.S. Fish and Wildlife Report can be accessed at the Web site of the White House Council on Environmental Quality at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/.
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