River Report Wayne Byers #114 Jamestown ND

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) -- On Wednesday's (Jun 17th) Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable Channel 2, Jamestown City Engineer, Reed Schwartzkopf asked Jamestown residents to continue to observe the voluntary odd-even sewer usage program, more moderate amounts put down the drain based on house or business addresses. He said if there is no significant rain event, the odd even system will be in place until about mid-July. He added the main sewer lift station is still pumping a large amount of material, about 6.5 to 7-million gallons per day. He says the odd even system is limiting the spiking of usage, which creates more stress on the pumps. At this time the remaining lift station pumping into the river is located near the river bridge at 2nd Street Southwest. Officials will add that station to the system when the addtional amount will not significantly added to the material being pumped.

River bank erosion is not significant, with the most noted near McElroy Park. Schwartzkopf said the city will work with the Parks and Recreation Department to help with park erosion including widening the roadway, to previous standards. He said about 30-pumps are active, and several more remain in place to reactivate to help move water in the event of signifcant rainfall amounts that could occur. He noted that a couple of storm sewer outlets remain closed, and those that are open have the ability to be re-plugged quickly to remove signifcant water in streets during a heavy rain. He said the combined dam releases would need to be down to about 1,200 cfs, to allow the river level to drop below the storm sewer outlets into the river. That figure would also help lessen the river water infiltration into the sanitary sewer system, as there still is significant ground water levels.

Also on the show, Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist said the National Guard numbers are reduced from 24 to 12 this week. By June 24th, the Guard's Jamestown mission should be over. Bergquist added, if a signifcant rain event ocurrs troops can be quickly re-deployed to Jamestown to assist in any emergency operations. He reminds residents that even with combined reservoir releases down to 1,800 cfs, that was the figure in the 1997 flood fight, and noted this year's flood fight is not over, yet.

Jamestown's sandbag reserve is at over 120-thousand filled sandbags, which are on standby in storage, and will be moved from locations such as Cavendish Farms, onto city property.

Schwartzkopf said if no significant rain event occurs, the Corps of Engineers will start the removal of Clay Levees and sandbag dikes, within the city, perhaps as early as June 26, and no later than July 8th.

This request covers those Jamestown residents who have had Clay, Sandbag, Hesco or other types of dikes placed in yards by the Corps of Engineers, the National Guard or by City Volunteer Forces. The request also covers the removal of sandbags placed by others if near the noted City, Guard or Corps built dikes, and if moved to the Public Right-Of-Way. However, since this project and contract is not yet finalized, DO NOT REMOVE ANY DIKE MATERIALS NOR PLACE ANY DIKE OR LEVEE MATERIALS ON THE RIGHT-OF-WAY AT THIS TIME!

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News & Politics

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• flood
• river
• levee
• jamestown
• nd