Updated forecast on Gavin's releases - river now closed upstream of Glasgow

Two little pieces of just released news, and some more details on levees and the threat to US65:

1. The Corps has released more details on their forecast for Gavin's Point releases. On July 30, releases will be reduced from 160,000 cfs to 155,000. On August 1, they will be reduced to 150,000. Heavy rains could still affect this forecast.

2. The Coast Guard has extended the closure of the Missouri River to all traffic from the Gavin's Point Dam to the Glasgow bridge at river mile 226.3.

3. Snowpack continues to melt. Here's the latest: The snow above Fort Peck peaked at 141% of normal and is now down to 6% of normal.  The snow in the reach between Fort Peck and Garrison (primarily the Yellowstone basin) peaked at 136% and is now down to 4%. The snow in the North Plate basin pecked at 150% of Normal and is currently down to less than 10% and the snow pack in the South Platte Basin peaked at 150% of Normal and the melting in this reach is complete.

4. From Tom Waters of the Missouri Levee & Drainage District Assoc.: The Root Levee breached early this morning.  This levee is located in Southern Carroll County in Missouri.  The breach is 250-33 feet long.  The levee is part of a system of levees, which includes the following levees:  Wakenda Levee, Sambo Slough Levee, and the Farmers Levee.  Combined this system protects around 22,000 acres and US Highway 65 south of Carrollton, Missouri.



MODOT is watching US 65 in Carroll County very closely.  Levee problems in that area may eventually close this highway and the bridge between Carrollton and Waverly.  Current US 65 has one lane open.  9,000 feet of large sand bags have been placed along the highway to try to keep it open.

Here is a map of the levee break, posted by the Corps of Engineers Missouri River Joint Communications Office: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=242770479083722&set=a.236052829755487.71723.223208304373273&type=1&theater

Here's the latest on levee overtops and breaches, courtesy of the Missouri Levee & Drainage District Assoc:

***At this time, all Non-Federal Levees in the KC District located upstream of Kansas City are either overtopping or have been breached***

Levees Overtopping

• A private levee in the Malta Bend bottoms is overtopping.  Began 7/9/11
• The Belcher-Lozier Levee in Carroll County is overtopping.  This levee is one of four levees that had a major breach last year.  Belcher-Lozier is one levee of several making up a very large levee system in Southern Carroll County.  It is located near Norborne, Missouri. Began 7/7/11
• The Wolcott Levee Section #3 is overtopping.  This levee is located near Interstate I-435  at the Leavenworth and Wyandotte County lines.  Section #2 has failed. Began 7/2/11
• The Wolcott Levee Section #1 is overtopping.  This levee is located near Interstate I-435  at the Leavenworth and Wyandotte County lines. Began again on 7/2/11
• The Kansas Department of Corrections Levee is overtopping near Lansing, KS. Began 6/29/11
• Federal Levee L-536-550 Turkey Creek LB. Rock Creek RB, Missouri River RB and Mill Creek RB is overtopping near River Mile 521.  This is between Corning, MO and Rock Port, MO.   This levee goes up the Right Bank of Rock Creek at the upper end of the system and up Mill Creek at the lower end of the system. The overtopping is occurring at a location on the Missouri River section of the levee L-536 at River Mile 521 for approximately 1/2 mile.  This levee system protects nearly 14,000 acres and 45 residential buildings with a population of 25.  Began 6/27/11
• Federal Levee R-548 near Brownville, Nebraska is overtopping. Began 6/20/11
• Cannon Drainage District Levee Near Forest City, Missouri Began 6/23/11
• Grape-Bolin Schwartz Levee Association Levee, Near Weston, Missouri Began 6/27/11
• Henry Pohl Levee, Near Atchison Began 6/27/11

Current Levee Breaches

• Root Levee in Southern Carroll County, Missouri
• Wolcott Drainage District Levee Section #2 near Interstate I-435 at the Leavenworth and Wyandotte County lines.
• L-575 Second Breach Near Percival, Iowa
• Bean Lake Levee
• Rushville-Sugar Lake, Also impacts Platte County Levees #1 and #2
• L-575 Near Hamburg, Iowa
• Union Township, Near Craig, Missouri
• Holt County #10, Big Lake, Missouri
• Holt County Levee #9, Forest City, Missouri
• L-550, Near Watson, Missouri

Private Levees Breached (Not in PL84-99 Rehab Program)

• A private levee west of Missouri City, Missouri and South of Old Highway 210 has breached.
• Vanmann Levee #30, Near Desoto Bend
• Mill Creek Levee, Holt County near Corning
• Big Tarkio River Levee-Holt County near Craig
• Levee District #10 Levee-Holt County near Big Lake
• Private levee just south of Blair, Nebraska in Iowa (Name not available)