SEATTLE (Jan. 12, 2009)-- As the waters recede, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers teams are working with local communities to assess damages and continue to monitor saturated areas.
During the flood, the Corps had more than 60 flood engineers out at seven Western Washington river basins and the Yakima River Basin. The Corps provided more than 200,000 sandbags to communities in Washington State and provided $1.7 million worth of federal assistance, including four pumps to divert water from I-5 at Centralia and Fife.
Dams reduced flood levels significantly
Howard Hanson Dam on the Green River received peak inflows of 30,500 cubic feet per second, and the Corps held outflow to zero. Without operations of Howard Hanson Dam, flood stage on the Green River at Auburn would have been greater than 72 feet. The Corps is monitoring downstream flows and is working to keep flows at Auburn below flood stage. The dam is currently passing outflows of 6,800 cfs.
Operation of the Mud Mountain Dam on the White River (which feeds into the Puyallup) reduced the flood stage downstream in Puyallup by more than 3 feet. Peak inflows to Mud Mountain Dam were 30,500 cfs, and the dam held outflow to zero.
Without operations of Mud Mountain Dam, flows in Puyallup would have been 70,000 cfs - overwhelming the lower Puyallup Valley with flood water. Mud Mountain Dam is now releasing flows at a rate of 9,300 cfs.
Corps flood engineers were on site in the city of Pacific beginning early Friday morning offering assistance to the local community.
In the Skagit River basin, the Corps regulated Upper Baker and Ross dams. Skagit River at Concrete peaked at 62,500 cfs, and the Corps held flows to minimum outflows until the Skagit peaked, reducing the flood stage downstream at Concrete by about 2 feet.
The Corps returned control of Wynoochee Dam to Tacoma Public Utilities today. Wynoochee received peak inflows of 22,500 cfs, and the Corps held outflows at 200 cfs, reducing the flood stage downstream by about 3 feet.
Contact: Public Affairs 206-764-3750 or the Information Line for recorded updates at 1-866-596-2635.