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News Release April 11, 2008 RESERVOIR ELEVATIONS AND RIVER FLOWS ANTICIPATED TO RISE (WATERTOWN, NY) The flow of the Black and Beaver Rivers, and the elevation of the Stillwater Reservoir are expected to rise due to increased precipitation and runoff from melting snow. Precipitation at the Stillwater Reservoir totaled 11.5 inches for the period February through March 2008, approximately 5.6 inches above average. According to the Regulating District’s March 31 through April 2 snow surveys, the snow pack in the Black River watershed was 23.3 inches, 9.4 inches above historic average. The snow’s water content was 8.52 inches, 3.6 inches above historic average. “Due to the cold late winter and early spring weather, much of the snow in the higher elevations did not melt and run off sooner,” stated Glenn A. LaFave, Executive Director. “The earlier above-normal precipitation and water content in the snow, combined with current warmer temperatures and rain, is now contributing to the excessive runoff.” On April 11, 2008 at 6:15 a.m., the flow of the Black River at Watertown was 21,600 cubic feet per second (cfs), over 160,000 gallons per second and was approximately one half foot below flood stage. On April 11 at 5:45 a.m., the elevation of Stillwater Reservoir was 1676.44 feet, 2.86 feet below the top of the flashboards on the Stillwater Dam. For information on river flows and the Regulating District’s reservoir releases, please visit http://www.hrbrrd.com/gauges.html. Please visit the National Weather Service website at http://newweb.erh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=buf or the U.S. Geological Survey website at http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ny/nwis/current/?type=flow for predictions and forecasts. |
