The Standing Rock Tribe is standing by its decision that the Dakota Access Pipeline protest camp on Army Corps of Engineers land north of the reservation be cleared.
Some who have already left the camp have talked about coming back – in light of President Trump’s executive order that may clear the way for the Pipeline to be finished. It would go under Lake Oahe near that spot.
"We're asking that the camp be cleared," said Standing Rock Tribal Chairman Dave Archambault II in a conference call with reporters. "We're asking that people don't come. There are other ways you can battle this."
Gov. Doug Burgum told reporters there is a real concern about spring flooding on the Cannonball River in that area. He said there’s really no way to use sandbags as a defense.
"If we don't evacuate and get all the debris, the cars, the buildings and everything illegally on federal property, then we're creating a water disaster that we have been trying to prevent," Burgum said. "That would be a sad irony."
Archambault said the focus should now turn toward Washington, DC.
