Reservoirs closed to boat traffic

The Jamestown and Pipestem reservoirs are temporarily closed to boat traffic, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, in cooperation with the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, announced Thursday.

The closure is until further notice.

The agencies cite underwater hazards, floating debris, sandbagged homes along the waters’ edge, environmental damage caused by rutting and continued release of water from the reservoirs, as factors in the decision.

“To reduce the possibility a boat’s wake topples sandbags protecting homes, we are temporarily closing the reservoirs,” said Mike Odle, Reclamation spokesperson. “Additionally, lake debris and unmarked underwater hazards are present and can cause severe damage to boats.”

“Two picnic shelters are floating in Pipestem Reservoir,” said Bob Martin with the corps. “These hazards, and more like them, are just below the water’s surface and you often will not see them until it’s too late.”

Both the corps and Bureau of Reclamation will continue to permit shore fishing along the reservoirs’ edge.

The Jamestown Dam road is closed to vehicle and pedestrian access as emergency vehicles and heavy equipment use the roadway.

Public viewing of the Jamestown Reservoir spillway is available along Fourth Avenue Southeast and Jamestown Dam road.

For more information about Jamestown Reservoir, call the Bureau of Reclamation at 701-221-1204. For Pipestem Reservoir call the Army Corps of Engineers at 406-650-8154.

Tags: news, boats, reservoir, jamestown, pipestem