Dakota Download Governor Burgum's Weekly Update - April 21, 2024

Groundbreaking ceremony marks start of construction on state-of-the-art North Dakota State Laboratory

Gov. Doug Burgum, alongside Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller and state agency officials, led the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the new North Dakota State Laboratory. The event marked a significant milestone in the state's commitment to advancing public health and preserving environmental quality in North Dakota.

"Whether they know it or not, every North Dakotan benefits from the State Laboratory, from water and air quality testing to disease prevention and control efforts in collaboration with community partners," Burgum said. "We're excited to embark on this transformative and historic project, which underscores our commitment to ensuring the health and safety of all North Dakotans. The new State Laboratory will allow for safer and more efficient workflow while also enhancing our capabilities to respond effectively to emerging public health challenges and environmental threats."

The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the new North Dakota State Laboratory location northeast of the Capitol. State legislators, cabinet members and leadership from the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services and the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality also gathered to commemorate the momentous occasion.

Miller, who chairs the State Laboratory Steering Committee and the Capitol Grounds Planning Commission, emphasized the strategic significance of the chosen location and design.

"By locating the new State Laboratory within the Capitol grounds, we're maximizing productivity, minimizing costs and fostering collaboration between key government agencies," Miller stated.

The groundbreaking ceremony featured remarks from key officials, including Health and Human Services Commissioner Wayne Salter, State Health Officer Dr. Nizar Wehbi and Environmental Quality Director David Glatt, highlighting the pivotal role of the State Laboratory in safeguarding public health and environmental quality.

The $70 million facility is being built with federal funds and is slated to commence construction this month, with completion expected by June 2026. Zerr-Berg Architects spearheaded the design of the 100,000-square-foot lab, which will be equipped with cutting-edge technology and scalable infrastructure to meet evolving demands. Kraus-Anderson is the construction manager of the facility.

Once operational, the new State Laboratory will be staffed by approximately 50 team members from Health and Human Services and Environmental Quality, serving as a hub for consultation, training and testing services related to infectious diseases, water quality monitoring and disaster response.

A segment of the road adjacent to the northeast parking lot is closed until further notice as construction continues.

More information about the North Dakota State Laboratory project is available on the Health and Human Services website here.

Burgum declares April 22 as Earth Day, April 22-26 as Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week in North Dakota

Gov. Burgum has declared Monday, April 22, as Earth Day in North Dakota. Earth Day presents an opportunity for all North Dakotans to raise awareness about the state’s natural resources and take personal action to help preserve and conserve them for future generations.

Simple ways to celebrate Earth Day, and every day, are by recycling, taking public transportation or carpooling, turning off lights when leaving a room, planting trees and utilizing renewable resources when possible.

Earth Day serves as a reminder for citizens to engage in the progress already underway in these areas across the state. For example, North Dakota communities, on average, recycle more than 2,700 tons per month, totaling over 32,000 tons each year.

Additionally, Gov. Doug Burgum has proclaimed April 22-26 as Severe Summer Weather Awareness Week.

“In North Dakota, it’s as important to prepare for summer weather as it is to prepare for winter weather. Extreme heat, summer storms, and other summer-related weather events all carry a degree of risk, but you can mitigate those risks,” said Debbie LaCombe, Preparedness Chief with the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.

The Department of Emergency Services, along with the National Weather Service, is hosting an all-ages coloring and meme contest to have fun while raising awareness and safety for this annual event.

“Severe weather awareness week is a great chance to educate everyone about the threats from summer storms and how to prepare for them,” said Jim Kaiser of the National Weather Service's Grand Forks Office. “It’s a reminder that we all should make or practice our emergency plans, including where to shelter at home or at work, and refresh our emergency preparedness kit or create one if you don’t yet have one.”

The contest runs April 22-26. Entries can be mailed, emailed or dropped off by April 26, with details available at NDResponse.gov. Winners will be chosen and announced May 3. Coloring sheets, instructions and additional learning resources are provided at NDResponse.gov. Please write on the backside of each entry name, age and phone number. One entry per person, please.

For a full list of proclamations visit the link below.

Devils Lake outlets to run at maximum allowable capacity

The Devils Lake Outlets Management Advisory Committee (DLOMAC) voted Tuesday to run the lake’s east and west end outlets at maximum allowable capacity.

As a result, the North Dakota Department of Water Resources (DWR) anticipates starting to run the outlets beginning May 1, provided forecasted temperatures will be above freezing and all preparation work is complete.

“With ongoing flooding challenges throughout the Devils Lake region, including thousands of acres of farmland still under water, it’s good to know we have support for a potential outlet start-up date of May 1,” said Jeff Frith, Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Board Manager and Water Commission member. “The longer the pumping season, the better opportunity we have to continue making progress toward lowering the lake.”

At maximum capacity, the Devils Lake outlets can discharge a combined 600 cubic feet per second (cfs), with 250 cfs from the west end and 350 cfs from the east end. Water quality and downstream channel capacity can limit releases.

“The Devils Lake outlets continue to be a vital component of the state’s comprehensive approach to reducing flood-related impacts in the Devils Lake basin,” Department of Water Resources Director Andrea Travnicek said. “And while the state remains committed to removing as much floodwater as possible this summer, we are also committed to monitoring water levels and water quality in consideration of the people who rely on the Sheyenne and Red Rivers downstream.”

During Tuesday’s annual DLOMAC meeting in Devils Lake, the DWR, North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality, and National Weather Service presented updates for the 17-member committee who represent the Devils Lake, Sheyenne, and Red River basins, including members from Minnesota and Manitoba, Canada.

In 2023, the maximum combined discharge from the outlets peaked at 400 cfs. According to the DWR, the Devils Lake outlets discharged 88,064 acre-feet of water in 2023, the highest volume since 2018. The discharge from the outlets resulted in an estimated one-half foot drop in lake level in 2023. The west end outlet operated 159 days in 2023, and the east end outlet operated 98 days.

The lake’s elevation was 1,449.4 feet as of April 18, and is expected to stay at approximately that level through the year.

The Devils Lake West End Outlet was constructed in 2005, followed by the East End Outlet in 2012 after the lake reached a record elevation of 1454.3 feet in 2011. Since then, the lake’s level has been steadily declining, aside from wetter than average seasons in 2022 and 2023.