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CITY (NewsDakota.com) Construction of a control structure at Tolna Coulee is in progress. The structure is designed to allow a controlled release of Devils Lake water at 3000 cfs into the Sheyenne River once the lake level surpasses the natural overflow point of 1458 feet.

Opponents are calling for additional study of the potential impacts the structure could have in terms of erosion and additional water into the Sheyenne River.

Barnes County Commissioner John Froelich says the commission supports building a control structure but doesn’t agree with the Army Corps of Engineers operating plan. Froelich believes a study should be conducted to determine the affects of erosion once the control structure in operating. He says with an additional 3000 cfs the Sheyenne River would have to handle 40 percent more water than normal. Froelich also favors draining Devils Lake water on the west end being the quality of water is best. He says the state and the Army Corps of Engineers should release more water from October 1 into January.

Barnes County Commissioner Phil Leitner says the state doesn’t seem to be looking at other outlet options to reduce Devils Lake. He says under the current plan the Sheyenne River will have to take all of the water and that worries a lot of downstream residents.

People to Save the Sheyenne President Archie Moore and Ad Hoc Downstream Co-coordinator Madeline Luke believe answers to this questions should be addressed first before the projects are operating this spring. Construction of the Tolna Coulee control structure could be completed by April.