SEATTLE—Flood teams from the Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will initiate work today on a flood berm in Pend Oreille County and the 1st Street Levee in Okanagan, Washington.
Engineers continue to work to raise a section the Oroville Road in Oroville, Washington, and strengthen the Mazama Levee and the Lost River Levee in Mazama, Washington. Work also continues in Okanogan, Washington, in Clark Fork, Idaho, and in Plains, Montana. Crews continue work on the Tonasket sewer lift station in Okanogan County, Washington and the Sanders County Levee in Montana. Teams are providing technical assistance to Missoula County, Montana; St. Maries, Idaho; Yakima County, Stevens County and Pend Oreille County, Washington; Twisp, Washington; and the Kalispel and Colville Confederated Tribes.
The Seattle District has provided about 1,460,500 sandbags so far to Okanogan County, Pend Oreille County and Tonasket in Washington; Missoula County in Montana; Bonner County, Idaho; and to the Kalispel and Colville Confederated Tribes. USACE has provided 2,800 Supersacks to Missoula County and Okanogan County, and four pumps to the Okanogan basin. USACE is also sending 2,400 Lf Hescos to Pend Oreille County.
Warm temperatures combined with above normal snow levels have created a situation where Pend Oreille River flows downstream of Albeni Falls Dam are likely to remain above flood stage through the 10-day forecast period and beyond. Flows on the Pend Oreille River and Lake Pend Oreille are now forecast to meet or possibly exceed 2011 levels. Albeni Falls Dam operational information is available on line at:
http://www.nws.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Locks-and-Dams/Albeni-Falls-Dam/
Corps of Engineers’ officials warn boaters and the public to be safe and watch out for floating or submerged logs or debris on Lake Pend Oreille. For safety purposes, all of Albeni Falls' boat ramps are closed including Riley Creek's. The Corps’ swim beaches are all closed for swimming. There is no re-opening scheduled yet.
Seattle District’s Okanogan River basin flood team has completed assistance to Okanogan County with berm construction in Oroville at Highway 97 to reduce the flood risk to infrastructure, with berm construction in Conconully, with levee strengthening in Okanogan and with rock placement to combat erosion at the Mill Street Bridge in the town of Okanogan along Salmon Creek.
Flood fight teams are coordinating with the States of Washington, Idaho and Montana. Agency representatives will continue to coordinate with the Tribes, counties and cities along the rivers.
Public Law 84-99 authorizes USACE to provide flood fight assistance at the request of local officials when rivers are at or above flood stage and local resources are fully used.
Private citizens seeking sandbags should contact their local government offices.
USACE coordinates closely with the National Weather Service. The Weather Service issues flood watches and warnings and should be consulted for that information.