Reservoir reaches normal elevation

The Omaha District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation announced Tuesday that Jamestown Reservoir has reached its normal summer pool elevation of 1,431.3 feet. Pipestem Reservoir is 5 feet above the top of its conservation pool and is storing water to be released over June, July and August.

Jamestown Reservoir is releasing 60 cubic feet of water per second. Inflows are 85 cfs and later this week releases will be increased to match inflows or slowly draw the pool down to 1,431 feet. That elevation is the target summer pool level, which provides water for recreation and irrigation while not adversely affecting Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge. Small fluctuations in pool level can be expected based on changing inflow and rainfall. Small rises in river levels of less than half a foot may be expected on the James River in Jamestown due to release increases this week.

Pipestem Reservoir is at 1,447.5 feet and rising less than 0.1 feet per day. It is expected to peak in the next few weeks. The current pool elevation is 5 feet above the top of its conservation pool with 3.8 percent of the flood control pool occupied. The reservoir is releasing 30 cfs with inflows of 60 cfs. Assuming normal rainfall, the current release will be held until early June when a constant release will be set to evacuate the stored water over June, July and August. Expected combined releases at that time are in the 100 to 200 cfs range.

Downstream flows on the James River in North and South Dakota have generally crested and are now dropping. The peak flow at LaMoure, N.D., was estimated at 310 cfs on March 15. The peak flow at the state-line gauge was estimated at 580 cfs on March 20. Flows at these locations are currently 221 cfs and 254 cfs, respectively.

River stages on the James River in North Dakota and South Dakota are available on the

U.S. Geological Survey

website at http://on. doi.gov/HvMehn.

Additional information is available through Margaret Oldham, Public Affairs Office, Omaha District Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at 402-995-2416.

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