Local reservoirs continue to evacuate water as forecasted. Inflows continue to be higher than normal, but the reservoir pool levels are dropping at a rate of 0.7 feet per day at Pipestem Reservoir and 0.3 feet per day at Jamestown Reservoir.
Currently, Jamestown Reservoir releases are 1,400 cubic feet per second and Pipestem Reservoir releases are 1,000 cfs, resulting in a combined release of 2,400 cfs. Releases will begin to be cut within the next couple of weeks, followed by a gradual reduction as the remainder of the flood control storage is evacuated. With average precipitation, all of the flood-control storage in the reservoirs will be evacuated by early to mid-November. Evacuation of flood control storage could take longer if abnormally high rainfall occurs.
Pipestem Reservoir peaked on Aug. 21 at a level of 1,488.7 feet, which is 1.9 feet higher than the previous peak this year of 1,486.8 feet on May 25. It was at 1,466.7 feet on Tuesday with 24 feet of water left to be drained from flood-control storage.
Jamestown Reservoir peaked on Aug. 21 at a level of 1,450.1 feet, which is 1.2 feet less than the previous peak this year of 1451.3 on May 1. It was at 1,439.1 feet on Tuesday with 9.5 feet of water left to be drained from flood-control storage.
The James River was measured at a stage of 13 feet with a flow of 2,430 cfs at the stream gauge near where it crosses Interstate 94 in southeast Jamestown.
