June 20 Congressional Delegation Listens To Regional Flooding Concerns
Jamestown, Valley City KCSi-T.V. News
Full meeting to be shown on The Replay Channel - consult schedule for playback
(KCSi-T.V. News) -– Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Congressman Earl Pomeroy held regional meetings in Valley City and Jamestown, Saturday, (June 20th), to discuss the impact of flooding in those areas and what can be done to prepare for high water in the future. The delegation took back to Washington, what happened in the area flood fight this year, the status of the recovery effort, and what can be done to minimize the threat of flooding in the future. ....More Story Below Video....
In Valley City the delegation taked with officials from across the Sheyenne River region, including the communities of Valley City, Lisbon, Fort Ransom and Kindred and Barnes and Ransom counties, followed by a meeting in Jamestown, with officials from Stutsman, LaMoure and Dickey counties, and communities on the James River including Jamestown, LaMoure and Oakes.
Senator Dorgan said, "These meetings were a good opportunity to hear form local officials about how flood recrovery efforts are going along the James and Sheyenne Rivers, and continued high water issues."
Senator Conrad added, "Today's meeting was a vital step in any future flood flight... permanent flood protection starts at the local leve.
Congressman Pomeroy added, "Today's meetings provided a good opportunity to learn about flood protection efforts along the James and Sheyenne Rivers."
City officials from LaMoure and Oakes spoke about overland flooding issues, and bridge debris, and a common concern was more accurate methods to anticipate how much water would be coming downstream to communities.
Senator Conrad emphasized needs for a watershed evaluation, and noted a FEMA modified policy of road raisings of washed out roads.
Also at the meeting the Corps of Engineers, Tim Temeyer said its expected that by the coming mid-week, combined releases from Jamestown and Pipestem Dams will be reduced under 1,800 cfs. Barring heavy rainfall amounts the Corps expects the flood storage at both reservoirs to be evacutated by the first week in August. After that time "normal releases," are anticipated which will match inflows.
Kim Thomas added contracts will be awarded in the next week to ten days to remove levees in Jamestown.
National Guard General Terry Robinson said officials are looking at a new 24-month period to keep levees in place temporarily, to give authorities time to study permanent levee protection.
Jamestown City Engineer, Reed Schwartzkopf emphasized a system-wide, long term approach of data gathering in the watershed for mitigation, conerning flooding effects up and down the James River. He said, until the levees are removed, it won't be know how much street damage the city has incurred due to dike construction and placement. He told the delgation about Jamestown storm and sanitary sewer issues during this flood fight.
Anne Carlsen Center, CEO Dan Howell asked for possible permanent levee protection and long-term mitigation, so the Center will never again have to be evacuated, like this year, due to flooding threats.
The Jamestown meeting was recorded by the KCSi-T.V. THE REPLAY CHANNEL with showing dates to be announced.
Officials from Ft. Ransom, Jamestown, Kathryn, Kindred, LaMoure, Oakes, Pingree, and Valley City, and the counties of Barnes, Dickey, LaMoure, Ransom adn Stutsman attended Saturday's meeting.
On line visit Jamestown USA dot com under River Watch and on CSi Cable Channels 10 and 67.
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