Pipestem releases to increase

Releases from Pipestem Dam are planned to increase today from 800 cubic feet per second to 1,000 cfs, according to Bob Martin, dam manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Releases from Jamestown Dam were cut to 800 cfs from 1,000 cfs Thursday in anticipation of rainfall in the Jamestown area, Martin said, so the target of 1,800 cfs running through Jamestown should be maintained.

Martin said the change will be made in two 100-cfs increments this morning and afternoon. Each increment should cause Pipestem Creek to rise 2 to 4 inches.

The change to Pipestem releasing more water is needed because Jamestown Reservoir is down to only having 33 percent of its flood control pool filled while Pipestem Reservoir still has 59 percent of its pool filled.

“Pipestem has been held high for a long time it was just time to start switching them over,” Martin said.

Corps and city officials will be monitoring the creek during and after the change, he said.

Tags: local news, news, jamestown, pipestem, water