Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports water releases from Jamestown and Pipestem Dams are currently (Dec 22nd) matching inflows.
Recording the Christmas Day Wayne Byers Show, airing on CSi Cable Channel 2, Pipestem Dam and Lake Project, Manger Bob Martin said, Pipestem Dam is releasing 12 cfs of water, and Jamestown Dam was releasing 13 cfs. for a combined release of 25 cfs, measured at the gauge at the I-94 bridge. He added Jamestown and Pipestem Dams will continue to release all winter, matching inflows. Last winter Jamestown Dam was shut off.
Martin said the water elevation at Pipestem Lake was 2 inches higher than freeze up, conservation pool, and Jamestown Reservoir’s elevation was a bit lower than this time a year ago.

Martin pointed out a wet, August, September and October this year, saw about 7 inches of moisture, more than the wet fall of 2008. He said, drier weather followed in November and most of December. With the lesser amount of snowcover, the moisture froze and the frost is much deeper now, than a year ago. He added more runoff from the spring thaw of snow and rain can occur when the frost is deeper.

Martin said this past spring and summer a record amount of water passed through the James River in Jamestown, stemming from record reservoir levels.
The previous record was 425,000 acre feet of water through the river, in 1997, compared to around 700,000 acre feet this past spring and summer. The Pipestem Lake elevation this year set a record, by 9 feet over the previous record, and Jamestown Reservoir set the record by 5-feet.

Martin said the amount of snow still to come this winter and spring rain, and frost in the ground will be factors in what will happen in terms of water inflows and releases from the dams this spring and summer.

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