May 1 Weekend Report: Another Residence Found With Water Entering San. Sewer
LaMoure Goes With "Option-2" On Long Term Dam Releases KCSi-T.V. News
At time of posting - No InterAgency meeting Saturday or Sunday unless situation changes - next updated report Monday.
Jamestown, ND -- Jamestown City Engineer Reed Schwartzkopf said at the Friday (May 1st) Interagency meeting, readings at the main sewer lift station remained on the high end of the operating range, pumping over 6-million gallons. He continues to urge Jamestown residents to conserve water usage, to put less waste water in the system. He said pumping three lift stations into the river has lessened the amount of waste water being pumped at the main lift, by about a half million gallons per day. Those lift stations are in the "heavily infiltrated," (by ground water) areas.
Jamestown Police Chief Dave Donegan reported another residence was found with water in the basement with the water going into the drain and into the sanitary sewer. A neighbor provided the information and had a key to the house, and then installed a sump pump to the outside, as the drain was no longer able to be plugged. The owner of the house had passed away, and his daughter from Minneapolis will take responsibility. MORE STORY BELOW VIDEO...
The Army Corps of Engineers reported that Jamestown Dam releases were changed twice on Friday. At 8:30-a.m., increased from 1,700 cfs, to 1,800 cfs and then decreased at 12:30-p.m. to 1,750 cfs, due to minor spillage over the morning glory spillway crest. No other release changes were planned Friday. Pipestem dam releases remained at 1,400 cfs.
At mid day Friday (May 1st) the Jamestown Dam elevation was 1,453.9 feet, up a tenth of a foot, and Pipestem Reservoir was at 1,490.2 feet, down three-tenths of a foot. The inflow at Jamestown Reservoir was 2,330 cfs, and at Pipestem Dam 320 cfs.
The Corps met with officials in LaMoure Thursday evening, concerning long-term release options Most wanted a quick release and draw down of the reservoirs at Jamestown. However, after an explanation of how high releases were negitively impacting Jamestown, the consensus in LaMoure was to go with option -2, as was the consensus of the City of Jamestown.
Option-2 would combine dam releases of 3,200-cfs until late May this year, then, reduce the combined release to 1,800 cfs with all flood storage being evacuated by late July this year. Under that option, Jamestown Reservoir would release 1,400 cfs to a reservoir elevation of 1,480 feet, and then to a release of 600 cfs, for Pipestem, and 1,800 cfs to an elevation of 1,450 feet, and then to a release of 1,200- cfs for Jamestown Dam.
The Corps says this option would provide adequate flood protection if a large rainfall event occurs, and would reduce downstream stages to a more manageable level as soon as possible...both for the City of Jamestown and downstream rural areas of North and South Dakota.
The National Guard reported 217 soldiers in Jamestown, with the number a bit lower as some soldiers participate in weekend drills. The Guard is providing assistance to public works, levee patrols, logistics support, traffic control, and the Quick Reaction Force. By next week the Guard force in Jamestown will be all voluntary, as the paid troops will be assigned elsewhere.
In a news release the National Guard reported, the bulk of flood-related activity is taking place in Stutsman County. The 136th CSSB (Combat Sustainment Support Brigade) Task Force, in Jamestown, continues to work in force, with about 250 Soldiers supporting flood operations today.
“We have dike patrols and pump monitoring missions along the James River,” said 1st Lt. Melvin C. Lynn, an operations officer with the task force.
The dike patrols have required around 100 Soldiers in a 24-hour operation and more than 50 pumps are spread throughout the city.
“I see the Guard here for a number of weeks, well into the summer,” Lynn said.
Although the flooding in North Dakota continues in some areas, the need for the Guard to operate multiple task forces is no longer needed. Throughout the past six weeks, commands have been headquartered in Fargo, Bismarck, Grand Forks, Minot, Valley City and Jamestown. Beginning Friday, command and control for all flood operations will come through the Bismarck Joint Operations Center.
The Public Information Call Center reported 975 calls over a 14 day period. The public may still call 251-6241 with flood related questions. After 7-p.m., Friday (May 1st) the call center staff will be deactivated with the calls transferred to the Law Enforcement Dispatch Center, and on Monday to Central Valley Health District.
The amount of calls have gone down in recent days, to 17 on Thursday and 13 by 2-p.m. on Friday. 121 calls was the most in one day on April 23rd. The Emergency Operations Center will be deactivated, however Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist says the infrastructure will remain in place, in case it needs to be reactivated at a later time. A "table top," excercise will be conducted on Monday (May 4th) with law enforcement and agencies involved, to SIMULATE an evacuation, how the entities will work together.
FEMA officials said the Stutsman Disaster Recovery Center, located at the Buffalo Mall had 311 registrants as of mid day Friday. Barnes County reported 543 registered. June 9th is the deadline to make application. If a registrant receives a denial letter from FEMA it may be for any one of a number of reasons. Read the letter carefully for an explanation. An appeals process for denials is available.
The FEMA toll free number to register is 1-800-621-FEMA.
For the latest information, on line visit JamestownUSA.com, under River Watch, and on CSi Cable Channels 10, 43, 67 and 10. The National Guard helicopter aerial tour of Jamestown is being shown on CSi Cable Channel 58 full screen over the weekend.
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