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CITY, ND – (NewsDakota.com) Griggs and Barnes County landowners in a newly formed assessment district want to drain a portion of Rose Slough.

In January, eligible landowner’s voted in favor of building the Silver Creek Drain to lower a portion of Rose Slough into the Sheyenne River using ditches and culverts along a 14 mile stretch in northwestern Barnes and southern Griggs counties.

But local resident Paul Stenshoel is worried about the environmental effects the drain may have on water quality, fish and wildlife.

Barnes County Water Resource District board member Dale Jorissen says the estimated cost to build the drain is $750,000.

The two Water Resource District Boards are in the process of obtaining a state permit for the project.

The cost share ratio is 60 percent for landowners living in the assessment district in Barnes County while 40 percent of the cost will be picked up by landowners living in the Griggs County assessment district.