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LAKE, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) The National Weather Service says Devils Lake will probably not exceed its record elevation this year. The new outlook indicates a 50-50 chance that the lake will exceed an elevation of 1,453.3 feet this year, and just a 10 percent chance that it will surpass the record 1,454.3 feet above sea level set in 2011.

The lake elevation dropped about 3 feet in 2012, partly because of a yearlong mini-drought and an expanded outlet system that moved about a foot of water to the Sheyenne River.

Down Stream Acceptance Coordinator Joe Belford said the drier conditions last year helped some farmer prepare their land for spring planting but that may be lost again this year.

Belford said a billion dollars in federal, state and local money has been spent to protect Devils Lake but still a number of area communities have been swallowed up by the lake.

NDSU Ramsey County Extension Service agent Bill Hodous said nearly 161,000 acres of cropland will be lost to the lake in this year.

NDSU Extension Service farm management specialist Dwight Aakre said, “total direct losses are estimated at nearly $54 million due to reduced sales of crop production as a result of inundated acres.”

Devils Lake Basin Joint Water Resource Board manager Jeff Frith says the area is still going to lose a few acres and some roads.