SEATTLE—Flood teams from the Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will initiate work today in Oroville, Washington, and Clark Fork, Idaho, and continue work in Okanogan and Conconully, Washington, and Plains, Montana.
Seattle District’s Okanogan flood team is assisting Okanogan County with berm construction in Oroville at Highway 97 to reduce the flood risk to infrastructure. Engineers are also in Clark Fork, Idaho, to initiate erosion protection work along the Johnson Creek Road on the Clark Fork River near Clark Fork.
Crews continue rock placement to combat erosion at the Mill Street Bridge in the town of Okanogan along Salmon Creek and berm work in Conconully, Washington, as well as levee strengthening in Plains, Montana. Teams are providing technical assistance to Missoula County, Montana, St. Maries, Idaho, and Yakima County, Washington, and the Kalispel Tribe.
The Seattle District has provided about 350,000 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 400 Supersacks to Missoula County and 400 to Okanogan County. An additional 120,000 sandbags are scheduled for delivery to Omak, Washington, today.
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.
USACE, the National Weather Service, Bonner County, Cusick and the Kalispel Tribe provided information to members of the public, elected officials and stakeholders at a May 11 public meeting in Cusick regarding flood preparation and response and Pend Oreille River forecasts. The presentation will be available on line May 13 at: www.nws.usace.army.mil <http://www.nws.usace.army.mil>
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.