Hydrology of the Devils Lake Basin, Northeastern North Dakota

By Gregg J. Wiche, Steve M. Hoetzer, and James G. Rankl

Abstract: North Dakota State Water Commission Water-Resources Investigations Report 3

Since 1867, the water level of Devils Lake has fluctuated from 1,438 feet above sea level in 1867 to 1,400.9 feet about sea level in 1940. The greatest annual maximum 30-day water-level rise was 3.82 feet, and this rise occurred in 1979. The greatest 1-day water-level rise was 0.40 foot, and this rise occurred in 1950. Analysis of the available hydrologic and climatologic data indicates the water level of Devils Lake fluctuates largely in response to climatic variability. Computed average annual inflow has varied from 70,000 acre-feet for 1969-83 to as little as 4,530 acre-feet for 1931-40. In addition to the effects of climatic variability on the inflow to Devils Lake, an interconnected chain of lakes upstream of Devils Lake retains runoff and is an evaporation basin for runoff from the Devils Lake basin. During 1965-67, at least 112,000 acre-feet of water was stored in this upstream chain of lakes. The higher the water level of Devils Lake, the greater the inflow required to raise the water level a given increment. As as example, an inflow to Devils Lake of 72,200 acre-feet has an exceedance probability of 10 percent. This inflow results in a 4.20-foot water-level rise if Devils Lake is at a staring water level of 1,410 feet above sea level; but, if the starting water level is 1,430 feet above sea level, the water level rise is only 1.41 feet. Based on a starting water level of 1,426.1 feet above sea level and an inflow of 72,200 acre-feet, the lateral change in shoreline location ranges from 16.8 feet along the south shore of Devils Lake and along the shore of Creel Bay to 148 feet along the West Bay of Devils Lake near Minnewaukan Flats.Based on previously recorded hydrologic and climatologic data, a " high-runoff" and a "low-runoff" condition were simulated from 1985 through 1990, assuming the current (1985) water level for the initial lake stand. The "high-runoff " simulation indicates that Devils Lake would have a maximum water level of 1,431.43 feet above sea level. The " low-runoff" simulation indicates that Devils Lake would have a minimum water level of 1,420.69 feet above sea level.

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