Missouri River Water Management News

Missouri River Water Management News Releases are available on the Northwestern Division website.RSS Feed

Jamestown and Pipestem Reservoirs Update

USACE
Published May 9, 2013

OMAHA, Neb. - Flood storage at Jamestown and Pipestem Reservoirs continues to fill as expected.  River gages upstream of the reservoirs have crested; however, above normal flows are expected for the next few weeks.

Currently releases are 100 cfs at Pipestem Reservoir and 950 cfs at Jamestown Reservoir resulting in a combined release of 1050 cfs.  These releases will be held steady through the weekend.  Over the next few weeks, Jamestown Reservoir releases may be adjusted up or down depending on the inflows into the reservoir and the downstream channel conditions.  However, the combined release is expected to be no higher than 1100 cfs unless significant rainfall is received.  Throughout May and early June, emphasis is being placed on evacuating Jamestown Reservoir flood storage.  Pipestem Reservoir flood storage will be primarily evacuated in June, July and August.

Pipestem Reservoir is currently at pool elevation 1464.8 feet which results in 25% of the flood pool occupied.  Inflows are 600 cfs and dropping.  Pipestem peak pool levels are forecast to be between 1466.6 and 1468.1 feet.  Jamestown Reservoir is currently at pool elevation 1436.0 feet which results in 7% of the flood pool occupied.  Inflows are currently 2100 cfs and slowly rising.  Jamestown peak pool levels are forecast to be between 1437.9 and 1438.2 feet.

Residents along the James River downstream from Jamestown should monitor flood forecasts by the National Weather Service and make preparations as necessary to minimize damages from high river levels.  Flood forecasts on the James River in North Dakota and South Dakota are available on the Missouri Basin River Forecasting Center website at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/mbrfc/.

A rapid deployable gage was installed on the James River near Adrian to provide river stage readings between Jamestown and Lamoure.  Data from this gage and permanent gages on the James River in North Dakota and South Dakota is available on the U.S. Geological Survey website at http://nd.water.usgs.gov/floodinfo/james.html.


Contact
Brian Twombly
402-995-2316
brian.j.twombly@usace.army.mil
or
Kevin Quinn
402-995-2417
kevin.r.quinn@usace.army.mil

Release no. 20130509-001