Jamestown dam releases go up; Pipestem releases cut

Jamestown Reservoir releases were increased from 1,200 cubic feet per second to 1,300 cfs Tuesday afternoon and Pipestem Reservoir releases were decreased from 500 cfs to 400 cfs, Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist said in a press release.

Including downstream runoff within Jamestown, this will result in a continued flow of approximately 1,800 cfs at the James River stream gauge in Jamestown.

Bergquist said an examination of the James River channel Tuesday by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Jamestown officials indicated there is capacity available for higher releases from Jamestown Reservoir. As a result, over the next several days Jamestown Reservoir releases will be increased to the available James River channel capacity, and Pipestem Reservoir releases will be decreased by the same amount.

The news release said this action provides the advantage of using all available channel capacity to evacuate Jamestown Reservoir storage and minimize the need for construction of emergency levees.

Jamestown Reservoir inflows continue to decline and are now at approximately 5,000 cfs. The forecasted Jamestown Reservoir peak pool level remains at 1,450 feet above mean sea level. The forecasted peak pool level for Pipestem Reservoir remains at 1,479 ft msl.

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