Jul 23, 1997
Devils Lake reached an elevation of 1442.8 feet MSL, continuing its record high levels. High water continued to close portions of Highways 57 and 20 south of the city of Devils Lake. Forestry officials estimated that 900,000 trees had been killed in the past 5 years due to high water levels, 200,000 of those trees just in the past 2 years. Homes and businesses close to the rising lake were moved to higher ground.
Source: NOAA National Weather Service Storm Events Database (event 5606918). Narrative written by NWS staff at the time of the event.
This event is one of many recorded floods in Benson County. See the full FEMA flood zone map, NFIP claim totals, and disaster history for the area.