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CITY, ND – (NewsDakota.com) A proposal to build an outlet near Hobart Lake to remove water west of Valley City is raising concerns from environmentalist and local fishermen.

The plan is to bury a pipe for three quarters of a mile with a half-a-mile of channel improvements to drain the water into the Sheyenne River.

Retired Wildlife Research Biologist Gary Krapu says every foot of water removed from Hobart Lake will affect wildlife and migratory birds like the western grebe.

Area resident Paul Stenshoel believes a study should have been done before the commission supported the B.C. Water Resource District’s plan.

The Barnes County Commission approved a letter of support for the $800,000 project earlier this year that will use federal dollars through FEMA to drain Hobart Lake water into the river.

Commissioner John Froehlich says the estimated cost of the project to Barnes County is $130,000.