Water released from Patterson

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Landowners below the Dickinson Reservoir can expect the Heart River to rise several feet as the Bureau of Reclamation planned to begin releasing water from the Patterson Lake dam today.

The water release could cause lowland flooding, according to a Bureau of Reclamation press release.

“The water releases will provide some melting of river ice prior to peak snowmelt and service spillway releases from Patterson Lake,” Jeff Nettleton, chief of facility operation and maintenance and engineering services Reclamation’s Dakotas Area Office, said in the release.

“Significant snowmelt and increased water inflows into the reservoir are expected later this week when temperatures warm to the upper 40s and 50s.”

Area emergency managers are taking steps to prepare for flooding, though they say they aren’t as concerned as last year.

“We’re just going to watch and see what it’s doing,” said Denise Brew, Dunn County emergency manager.

One of the biggest concerns, Brew said, is watching roads to make sure they are closed if water causes problems.

Brew said there are county shops located in Halliday, Killdeer and Manning that have sandbags for the public to fill and transport if needed.

Water has been released from Lake Ilo, located west of Dunn Center, which took on a lot of water last year, she added.

The Beulah City Council voted Monday to decline an offer from the Army Corps of Engineers to build a temporary levee to protect homes from flooding on the south side of the city.

Carrie Law, Golden Valley emergency manager, said the county isn’t expecting any above-normal flooding, but may see some washout of roads, which she said happens almost every year.

Hettinger County officials met recently and delivered sandbags to some residents, said Ilene Hardmeyer, Hettinger County emergency manager.

“Our major concern right now maybe is not so much Cannonball flooding, as if the Cannonball River rises to, like, 15 feet, then the Mott watershed comes into affect,” Hardmeyer said.

“That drains through the city of Mott and out through the Cannonball. If the Cannonball gets too high, then it backfills onto east Mott.”

The Cannonball River would have to reach about 18 feet for flooding to occur, she estimates. Right now it’s at about 5 feet and hasn’t changed elevation.

Hardmeyer said she is on the lookout for any water pump 12 inches or larger to add to the two that would be set up in east Mott if needed. Anyone that has one can contact her at 701-824-4227.

Residents can also get sandbags by calling Mott, she said.

“I’m less concerned (than last year), unless we have ice jams,” Hardmeyer said. “There are many variables to consider.”

Libby Gravning, Adams County emergency manager, said officials are watching for flooding, but thinks melting is happening slowly enough.

“Ours would just be overland,” Gravning said. “Last year we just had about 10 residences that were damaged.”

Gravning said she has sandbags on hand, but has not done any bulk bagging.

Tags: heart river, patterson lake, news, local, flooding