OMAHA, NE—Pipestem Reservoir is currently at pool elevation 1443.9 feet, which results in 0.9 percent of the flood pool occupied. Inflows are currently 10 cubic feet per second (cfs) with no reservoir release. Jamestown Reservoir is currently at pool elevation 1430.8 feet, which is 0.2 feet below the base of the flood pool. Inflows are minimal with no reservoir release. The maximum combined release from the reservoirs is not expected to exceed 200 cfs this summer; however, significant rainfall could necessitate higher release levels. The upper James River basin is currently in abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions according to the US Drought Monitor, which could decrease rainfall runoff into the reservoirs.
A winter release to benefit water quality resulted in a Pipestem Dam release of 11 cfs at the start of the calendar year. On March 5 the reservoir entered the flood control pool. On March 17 the lake ice melted off the reservoir and releases were shut down to 0 cfs since reduced dissolved oxygen levels due to ice cover were no longer a concern. A release from Jamestown Dam will be initiated if necessary this spring or summer in order to evacuate any accumulated Jamestown Reservoir flood storage. Water deliveries for downstream irrigation are anticipated from Jamestown Dam throughout the spring and summer. Pipestem Reservoir flood storage will be primarily evacuated in June, July, and August to allow for evacuation from Jamestown reservoir by June 1.
Release no. 20160411-001