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LAKE, N.D. (AP) The water board representing counties in the Devils Lake basin has dropped its sponsorship of a proposed floodwater outlet from Stump Lake.

Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Resource Board manager Jeff Frith says the move came after the state increased the cost estimate from $17 million to $23.5 million. Frith says the board still favors the idea of the outlet but the local share of the cost would be too high.

Stump Lake has become connected to Devils Lake after two decades of flooding. The proposed Stump Lake outlet would complement outlets on Devils Lake’s west and east sides.

State Water Commissioner engineer Bruce Engelhardt says he doesn’t immediately know what the local water board’s decision will mean for the proposed project.