Mar 12: New Forecast - Not Good News
Combined 3200cfs Releases from Dams will Equal 2009
KCSi-T.V. News Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) --
A new forecast, for the James River and Pipestem Creek, based on this week's rainfall, has pushed the forecast releases from Jamestown and Pipestem Dams, upward...to 2009 releases.
On Friday (March 12th) the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced, the combined releases will again, be 3,200 CFS, the peak releases experienced in 2009.
A few weeks ago, the Corps estimated the combined release at 1,800 cfs, and now the forecast recommends building levees to protect against combined releases of 3,200 cfs.
Colonel Robert J. Ruch, Omaha District Commander for the Corps, says,
says the half inch to one and a half inches of precipitation received in the James River Basin this week changed the forecast and now reservoir pool levels could exceed 1997 levels, which prompted the combined release of 1,800 cfs.
Currently, the combined release rate from the two dams is the winter release of 30-cfs.
The corps says residents along the James River downstream from Jamestown should continue to monitor flood forecasts by the National Weather Service and make preparations as necessary to minimize damages from the forecasted high river levels.
Public meetings next week to discuss updated forecasts, planned releases and plans for emergency levees in Jamestown. The corps, Bureau of Reclamation and National Weather Service will continue to monitor snowpack conditions and provide updated forecasts as conditions change.
Current forecasts from the National Weather Service indicate a high probability of major flooding along the James River in areas downstream from Jamestown. The corps has developed plans for emergency levees in LaMoure, and will award a contract in the next few days.
In 2009, Jamestown Reservoir reached its record-level peak April 26, as water drained through its “glory hole” spillway for the first time since its construction in the 1950s. Its prior record, set in May 1997, was more than eight feet lower. Pipestem Reservoir also set a new record elevation in spring 2009.
OMAHA, NEB. - Inflow forecasts for Jamestown and Pipestem Reservoirs and plans for emergency levees in Jamestown, N.D., and Lamoure, N.D., were announced March 12 by the Omaha District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Pipestem Dam is a Corps of Engineers project, while Jamestown Dam is a Bureau of Reclamation project regulated by the Corps when the reservoir pool level reaches the flood control zone. The dams are located along the James River and Pipestem Creek just north of Jamestown, N.D.
Due to abnormally high snow pack conditions in the James River basin this spring, the Corps expects high inflows into both Jamestown and Pipestem Reservoirs. Earlier reservoir inflow forecasts indicated that reservoir inflows would be similar to 1997 levels, and combined reservoir releases would be 1800 cubic feet per second (cfs).
However, on March 9-11, an additional 0.5 to 1.5 inches of precipitation occurred in the James River basin upstream of the dams, and updated "most likely" forecasts indicate that reservoir pool levels could exceed 1997 levels and the upper range of these forecasts indicate the reservoir pool levels could be similar to 2009 levels, when the spillway flows occurred at Jamestown Dam, said Omaha District Commander Col. Robert J. Ruch.
The Corps has been developing plans for emergency levees in the city of Jamestown, based upon the earlier forecast of a maximum combined release of 1800 cfs.
Due to the additional precipitation and forecasts for higher reservoir pool levels, the Corps has recommended to the city of Jamestown and Stutsman County that the emergency levees be designed for a maximum combined release of 3200 cfs, similar to the emergency levees installed in 2009.
Public meetings will be held next week to discuss updated forecasts, planned releases and plans for emergency levees in Jamestown. The Corps, Bureau of Reclamation and National Weather Service will continue to monitor snow pack conditions and will provide updated forecasts as conditions change.
Both Jamestown and Pipestem Reservoirs are currently at normal wintertime levels near the base of the flood control zone. Jamestown Reservoir is currently at 1,429.5 feet mean sea level (m.s.l.) and Pipestem Reservoir is at 1,443.0 feet m.s.l. Both reservoirs have risen 0.3 feet over the last several days due to runoff from recent precipitation. The combined release rate is approximately 30 cubic feet per second.
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