Ice jams threaten Minot
Crest exceededBy KIM FUNDINGSLAND, Staff Writer kfundingsland@minotdailynews.com
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Sandbagging extended; volunteers needed
Local flood preparation authorities have extended sandbagging operations at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds in Minot. Operations will continue today and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
There is still an urgent need for volunteers to assist in filling sandbags at the fairgrounds.
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Project road closed
Officials in Burlington, citing excessive traffic, have closed Project Road in Burlington. Sightseers traversing the area are damaging already weakened roads, causing a safety hazard to workers and residents, and hindering public safety vehicles including evacuation forces. Until further notice, Project Road is closed to all traffic except residents and public safety vehicles. Violators will be cited.
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Sandbag only where needed
Disaster preparation officials have noted that some residents who do not live in potential flood areas are using sandbags when there is no need. Sandbags are being produced and made available to those who live in potential flood areas to protect their homes. Residents who do not require sandbags are asked to refrain from taking them.
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» CU: Ice jams in Foxholm, MinotIt was ice in the Souris River that attracted crowds of onlookers throughout the city Monday and pushed the river above the expected crest in Minot.
Large chunks of ice had begun stacking up against the Eighth Street Bridge early Monday and, by mid-morning, had noticeably raised the level of the river behind the jam.
A constant stream of river watchers, including representatives from the city, watched from the bridge and riverbanks as the ice jam kept growing. Shortly after the noon hour the creaking and cracking of the ice was replaced momentarily by a rush of water as the frozen clog, which had reached several blocks in length, broke apart and moved down river. Huge chunks of ice shook the bridge as they collided with bridge supports at river level.
Within minutes the downstream gauge at the nearby Broadway Bridge registered 1,547.9 feet, a level three-tenths above the expected river crest which is scheduled to occur today. While much of the ice made its way through the river channel, a large portion of it came to rest against the pedestrian on Fourth Avenue Northeast. Again, the cumbersome and troublesome ice attracted a large audience. Some cheered as portions of the ice jam broke free and floated downstream.
The National Weather Service outlook for peak water flows on the Souris River through Minot were downgraded Monday, reflecting the rapid melting that took place over the weekend. Previously the NWS predicted a crest of 1,548.1 feet on Thursday of this week at Broadway. The forecast issued Monday called for a crest of 1,546.8 to occur today, two days earlier than previously thought.
"We're watching now the projected rainfall," said David Waind, city manager, following a conference call that included the NWS. "Forecasting for the worst case scenario, they are saying we could reach 1,550 at Broadway. We've already planned for well above that at 1,553."
According to Waind, the NWS says there is a possibility that some locations upstream from Minot could receive 2.25 inches of rain this week, with a liklihood of an inch falling in the Foxholm area. However, the possibility also exists that the expected weather system could bypass the Des Lacs and Souris River Basin drainages entirely.
The flow in the Souris River through Minot to date is due almost exclusively to the Des Lacs River, which merges with the Souris near Burlington. The Des Lacs is expected to crest at Foxholm today at 19 feet, 3 feet above flood stage, with a flow just over 2,500 cubic feet per second; a flow that will go down as one of the highest in Des Lacs River history. By comparison, the Des Lacs peaked at 2,950 cfs during the historic flood of 1969 and has exceeded 2,500 cfs on just three occasions since 1945.
Holding pools at the Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge at Kenmare still had plenty of storage remaining as of Monday afternoon. According to Refuge Manger Dave Bolin, he got a pleasant surprise yesterday.
"Monday morning I thought that we might be full by Monday night, or Tuesday," said Bolin. "But, as I checked Monday afternoon it was apparent that our water had gone up only a little."
There are eight separate holding pools at Des Lacs NWR. Pool No. 8, a very small pond that is the southernmost pool on the refuge, has filled due to coulee runoff that leads directly into the isolated pool. However, two of the larger pools that were at record low levels last fall have not yet begun to fill.
"They haven't even started to fill yet and there's substantial storage in those two units," said Bolin. "The flow from the Canadian side and from west of us hasn't started yet."
All of the water control structures at Des Lacs NWR have remained closed throughout the melt.
"We're storing the maximum that we can. We have everything closed," said Bolin. "We will keep it that way, even if we reach crest level."
The release gates at Lake Darling Dam also have remained closed and the Souris River immediately below the dam covered in ice. Kelly Hogan, Souris Basin Refuge Complex Manager, says Lake Darling Dam is there to provide flood protection for Minot but, according to the latest information from hydrologists in Canada, Lake Darling might struggle to reach its summer operating level of 1,597 feet. Lake Darling, which remains ice-covered, stood just over the 1,591 level Monday.
"We're hearing revised numbers every day and, of course, we don't know for sure what the weather will do. We want to make sure everything in Minot and downstream has passed its peak," said Hogan. "It appears the Corps of Engineers is looking at releasing some water from here around that April 26 time frame, but even that is still up in the air. We've got plenty of storage remaining."
As of Monday afternoon, the communities of Foxholm and Carpio, both on the Des Lacs River, were experiencing high water but avoiding any major flooding to structures. Water from the Des Lacs flowed over a portion of the road connecting the North and South Burlington Projects on Monday. The impact of the runoff downstream from Minot is not yet fully known. The Wintering River at Karlsruhe is expected to crest well above flood stage as is Willow Creek, which flows through Willow City. Both are tributaries of the Souris.
Record high water levels are expected to occur in the Westhope area later this month.
