Army Corps flood teams initiate new work in Okanogan River basin

Published May 15, 2018

SEATTLE—Flood teams from the Seattle District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will initiate work today to raise the Oroville Road in Oroville, Washington, and strengthen the Mazama Levee in Mazama, Washington, while work continues in Riverside and Okanogan, Washington, in Clark Fork, Idaho, and Plains, Montana.

Engineers in Clark Fork, Idaho, are conducting erosion protection work along the Johnson Creek Road on the Clark Fork River near Clark Fork, and crews continue levee strengthening in Plains, Montana. Teams are providing technical assistance to Missoula County, Montana, St. Maries, Idaho, and Yakima County, Washington, and the Kalispel and Colville Confederated Tribes.

The Seattle District has provided about 807,000 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 2,800 Supersacks to Missoula County and Okanogan County, and two pumps to the Okanogan basin. An additional 480,000 sandbags are en route to the Okanogan area.

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/

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, as well as berm construction in Conconully, levee strengthening in Okanogan and 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.


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Release no. 18-038