With the water temperature at 78 degrees, "it's like swimming in a bath tub," Burleigh water board engineer Mike Gunsch said of conditions out at the McDowell Recreation area.

Gunsch joined Burleigh County water resource district board chairman Ken Royse in pitching the district's 2007 budget to the Burleigh County commission Tuesday. Commissioners asked for an update on McDowell, which went through an aluminum sulfate treatment earlier this year to improve water quality.

"The alum treatment has done exactly what we hoped," Gunsch said. "It's lowered the nitrogen and phosphorus levels."

But the drought has had an impact on the recreational lake, lowering it nearly 3 feet.

"This takes us back to where the next source of water can be found," Gunsch said. "The water quality has been fine, but the boat ramp is unusable due to the drop in water level."

The water district is asking for $20,000 for master planning at the recreation site. Some of the money's intended use is to develop an application for a water permit for Apple Creek, allowing diversion of water to McDowell.

Gunsch said that the cost of diversion construction is estimated at $340,000. There is opportunity to cost-share this type of project, according to the engineer.

"But at this stage, we need to go to the State Water Commission to make sure a water permit will even be allocated prior to investing a whole lot more," Gunsch said.

Commissioner Doug Schonert, who holds the water district's portfolio, said that if the two water bodies were connected today, it would be of little help.

"With Apple Creek this dry, we wouldn't be able to draw a drop of water," Schonert said. "But when there was water available, we could fill McDowell up."

The diversion will be a pre-emptive concept, Gunsch said.

"If a diversion had been in place, instead of being 3 feet down, it might be a foot higher," Gunsch said. "We would try to grab up as much water as practical in the spring. There could be some removal in the summer if there is a summer rainfall event allowing it. The idea is to keep McDowell full."

The district is also asking for $40,000 for the recreation site for capital improvements, including playground equipment and some paving of the roads and parking lots.

Commissioner Claus Lembke voiced concerns that money being invested in McDowell could be put to better use in developing recreation along the Missouri River.

"Commissioner Marlan Haakenson has always talked about the validity of McDowell dam. Is it a good return on the money spent?" Lembke said. "There's thousands of acres of wetlands between the two bridges on the Missouri. We would just have to excavate a little to come up with a reasonable recreation area."

Royse said the water board wasn't asking for an increase in the 1.65 mills that are dedicated to the district. He also said that there are $400,000 in reserves and plans were to use about $100,000 of those reserves for projects.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)