JAMESTOWN, N.D. KCSi-T.V. News) -– Release reductions from Pipestem Reservoir began on Tuesday, May 19, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“Reductions of 300 cubic feet per second (cfs) will have been made at Pipestem Reservoir by Friday evening, (May 22nd) to a level of 1100 cfs, and releases will be held at that level until next week,” said Col. David. C. Press, Omaha District Commander. “Reductions at Jamestown Reservoir will begin on about May 25, when the reservoir pool is expected to reach a level of 1450 feet mean sea level (msl).”

The public is reminded that both reservoirs remain closed to all watercraft through the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. A plan is under development by federal, state and local entities for opening up parts of Jamestown Reservoir to boating after Memorial Day.

The release reductions will continue at a rate of approximately 100 cfs every 2 days until the combined release is 1,800 cfs, with approximately 600 cfs being released at Pipestem Reservoir and 1,200 cfs being released at Jamestown Reservoir.

Several options were considered for long-term releases from the reservoirs. The release reductions being made were as outlined in Option 2, which was presented during several agency and public meetings concerning long-term release plans from the reservoirs. Based on consideration of impacts in the city of Jamestown, areas upstream of the reservoir, and downstream rural areas of North Dakota and South Dakota, it is felt that release reductions at this time will still provide adequate flood protection if a large rainfall event occurs upstream of the reservoirs. The lower releases would also reduce downstream stages to a more manageable level as soon as possible, both for the city of Jamestown and downstream rural areas. Pipestem Dam now has sufficient flood control storage available to contain a 100-year rainfall event upstream of the reservoirs without reservoir levels rising to the point that damaging spillway flows would occur. Within about 4 days, Jamestown Reservoir will also have a similar amount of available flood storage capacity.

After the combined release of 1800 cfs is reached in mid-June, it is expected that releases will be maintained at that level until early July. At that point, releases will be gradually reduced as the remainder of the flood control storage is evacuated. It is expected that all flood control storage will be evacuated by early August. Evacuation of flood control storage could take longer if abnormally high precipitation occurs.

Jamestown Reservoir is currently at 1,450.7 feet with 78 percent of the flood control storage occupied. Pipestem Reservoir is at 1,478.2 feet with 49 percent of the flood control storage occupied.

Pipestem Dam is a Corps project and Jamestown Dam is a Bureau of Reclamation project that is regulated by the Corps when the reservoir is in the flood control zone. The dams are located along Pipestem Creek and the James River immediately north of Jamestown, N.D.

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