MINOT, N.D. (AP) - Cabin owners are angry and frustrated with the Army Corps of Engineers decision to lower Lake Audubon by 3 feet to relieve pressure on an embankment along the highway between Audubon and its sister lake, Sakakawea, in the Missouri River system.

At stake, the corps says, is the safety of the Snake Creek embankment that carries U.S. Highway 83 and separates the two lakes.

Because Lake Sakakawea is so low and Audubon remains at its strictly regulated operating level, the difference in the water level in the two lakes is nearly 36 feet -a difference could add stress on the embankment, the corps says.

John Bertino, Chief of the Corps Engineering Division and dam safety officer, said the embankment is stable now, but the corps wants to reduce the difference between the lakes as a precaution. So the corps plans to move Lake Audubon water into Lake Sakakawea - a process that will take nearly two months to complete.

"Maybe they should have thought of the embankment problem when they were managing Lake Sakakawea. How can the solution to low water be to release more water?" asked Audubon cabin owner Larry Louser

The corps called a hastily arranged meeting Tuesday in Garrison to discuss the issue, but told participants the drawdown of Lake Audubon was moving ahead. A coffer dam already has been built on the east side of Audubon so water that normally flows from Audubon into the McClusky Canal and the Chain of Lakes won't move back into Audubon.

"How can anyone like it?" said Bill Lindell, an Audubon cabin owner. "I'm not sure that North Dakota is getting a fair shake out of this. We had a meeting, but the call had already been made. We are just pawns in some sort of a plan that isn't going our way."

Added fellow cabin owner Don Stokke: "They planned on doing it. No matter about the meeting."

Lakes downstream from Audubon - West Park, East Park, Hecker's and New John's - are popular fishing spots in the summer. They normally get water from Lake Audubon through the McClusky Canal, but coffer dam would prevent that.

At the Garrison meeting, the Corps said it would replenish Lake Audubon when and if Lake Sakakawea get enough runoff next spring.

Cabin owners worry that when the drawdown is complete, Lake Audubon will be left with only one operational boat ramp in the spring. They also worry that if Lake Audubon begins freezing over before the drawdown is complete, a dangerous gap would be created between cover ice and the actual water level.

"It makes no sense to me whatsoever," said Sue Ronnie, another Audubon cabin resident. "The whole thing doesn't make sense."