Dworshak discharge flow increases tonight; use caution

Published Jan. 19, 2011

Dworshak discharge flow increases tonight; use caution

AHSAHKA, Idaho – Water discharge from Dworshak Dam near Orofino, Idaho, will temporarily increase starting at midnight today to make room in the reservoir for flood risk management purposes, US. Army Corps of Engineers operations officials announced today.

Discharge flow will be increased from approximately 10,500 c.f.s. (cubic feet per second) to 14,000 c.f.s. beginning at midnight today and will be maintained until further notice.

“The rainfall and associated runoff over the past week or so brought the reservoir water level up to 1,536 feet in elevation,” said Stephen Hall, Walla Walla District senior water manager. “We have to maintain space in the reservoir to manage flood risk through the spring season – that means we need to get the water elevation back down to 1,526 feet to keep on track for having room for the seasonal snowmelt inflows a couple of months from now.”

Hall said it would likely take a couple of weeks of increased flows to reach that target elevation.

Corps officials advise boaters and other persons using waterways both in Dworshak Reservoir and below the dam on the Clearwater River to be alert to changes in water elevation and volume of flow during this time period.

For more information, please call the Public Affairs Office at (509) 527-7020.

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Release no. 11-02