Water-release meeting tonight

The Omaha District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has received approval to construct temporary emergency levees in the city of Jamestown if high releases are made from Jamestown and Pipestem reservoirs.

A public meeting is planned at 6 p.m. today in City Hall, 102 Third Ave. S.E., to discuss current release forecasts and outline possible locations of emergency levees. Additional public meetings concerning water release plans for Jamestown and Pipestem reservoirs will be held the week of April 6 in Jamestown and Aberdeen, S.D.

Due to abnormally high snow pack conditions in North Dakota, the corps expects high inflows into Jamestown and Pipestem this spring. Snow pack conditions are similar to 1997, 1999, and 2001 that caused high runoffs. In 1997 — the record runoff year — releases of 1,800 cubic feet per second were required from the reservoirs. Emergency levees were constructed to prevent damage along the James River in Jamestown.

A decision on levee construction will be made when forecasts indicate that a release of 1,800 cfs will be required this year.

The corps, Bureau of Reclamation and National Weather Service continue to monitor snow pack conditions and will provide updated forecasts as runoff develops in the James River basin.

Pipestem Dam is a corps project while Jamestown Dam is a Bureau project. It is regulated by the corps when the pool level reaches the flood control zone. The dams are located along the James River and Pipestem Creek just north of Jamestown.

Tags: corps of engineers, news, flood, meeting, jamestown