Releases reduced at Jamestown Dam

Releases were reduced to 1,150 cubic feet per second from the Jamestown Dam Thursday evening to make room in the river channel for forecasted rain runoff, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Releases remained at 300 cfs from the Pipestem Dam.

The corps and Bureau of Reclamation will continue to monitor rainfall forecasts and adjust releases from the dams as needed. Releases will be restored to 1,400 cfs from Jamestown and 300 cfs from Pipestem when the threat of imminent rainfall has passed.

Currently, Jamestown Reservoir is at a level of 1448.5 feet mean sea level and the forecasted peak pool level is 1450 feet msl. Pipestem Reservoir is at a level of 1478.8 feet msl and the forecasted peak pool level is between 1480 and 1484 feet msl, depending on release changes. Forecasts for both reservoirs will be monitored and updated as needed based on future conditions.

The corps, Bureau of Reclamation, and National Weather Service will continue to coordinate with the city of Jamestown concerning forecast reservoir levels and release rates.

As the threat of downstream rainfall decreases, the corps and Bureau of Reclamation will continue small increases from Jamestown Reservoir. Channel conditions along the James River in Jamestown will continue to be examined on a daily basis and, if these inspections indicate there is capacity available for higher releases from Jamestown Reservoir, adjustments will be made to the releases. Jamestown Reservoir releases will be increased by 50 cfs per day and Pipestem Reservoir releases will be decreased by 50 cfs per day. With these release changes the target James River flow of 1,800 cfs at the Jamestown stream gauge is being maintained.

As warranted by downstream rainfall conditions, the ability to increase releases from Jamestown Reservoir provides the advantage of using all available channel capacity to evacuate Jamestown Reservoir storage. Although both Jamestown Reservoir and Pipestem Reservoir will reach peak pool levels in the next several days, Jamestown Reservoir has less storage available to handle rainfall events that would further increase reservoir pool levels. Currently in Jamestown Reservoir the flood control pool is 64 percent full and in Pipestem Reservoir the flood control pool is 50 percent full.

Shifting a higher percentage of the release to Jamestown Reservoir will not change river stages on the James River downstream from the confluence with Pipestem Creek (near Klaus Park). However, along the James River upstream from Klaus Park there will be stage increases of several inches each day as Jamestown Reservoir release increases are made.

Residents along the James River should monitor conditions along the James River and take necessary actions to prevent flood damages. Jamestown city officials should be contacted at 252-5900 ext. 126 if assistance is needed to determine height requirements for protective measures. This number will be monitored this weekend. If assistance is needed after regular business hours, contact Stutsman County Communications at 252-1000. Sandbags and sand are available from Stutsman County at the Stutsman County Road Department from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., including this Saturday and Sunday.

Pipestem Dam is a corps project while Jamestown Dam is a Bureau of Reclamation project regulated by the corps when the reservoir pool level reaches the flood control zone.

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