The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, Reservoir Control Center began 24-hour operation Jan. 6. Corps flood teams are currently out on the Olympic Peninsula, and in the Snohomish, Skagit, Green, Chehalis, Puyallup and Nooksack river basins.
There are 46 flood fighters out in these river basins, and the Corps is monitoring the situation throughout Washington in case more assistance is needed.
"The Corps has teams of emergency responders that assist in floods and natural disasters and they are supporting local governments as requested," said Seattle District Emergency Management Chief Paul Komoroske.
Public Law 84-99 enables the Corps to assist state and local authorities in flood fight activities and cost share in the repair of flood protection structures. The purpose is to prevent loss of life and minimize property damage associated with severe weather.
The reservoirs behind dams the Corps operates were all down at low levels ready to hold back high flows. The Corps operates dams in the White/Puyallup, Green/Duwamish, Skagit and Wynoochee basins for flood risk reduction.
Currently Howard Hanson Dam on the Green River is releasing minimum outflows of 1,000 cubic feet per second while receiving 23,000 cfs of inflow. Mud Mountain Dam on the White River (which feeds the Puyallup) is experiencing inflows of 21,700 cfs and releasing minimal flows of 1,300 cfs. The Corps is holding back flows due to forecasted high tributary inflows to the Green and Puyallup rivers downstream of the dams.
For more information on the Corps, and up-to-date river forecasts, go to
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