More dam releases raise river ( My plant has millions in damage)

I work at the Mo River plant. Half the plant is built outside the levy system. A supervisor at the plant will lose his home to the flood in Council Bluffs. He has no flood insurance like most of his neighbors. Water hasn't been in his neighborhood since 93.

Video: http://www.action3news.com/category/170799/video-landing-page?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=5898611&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

Video: http://www.wowt.com/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=5898694&flvUri=&partnerclipid=

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110528/NEWS01/705299883#more-dam-releases-raise-river

By Susan Szalewski
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

The surging Missouri River has Omaha officials preparing to close the downtown floodgates for one of the few times since the 1950s.

A decision could come as early as Sunday, after federal officials announced an accelerated schedule for releases from upstream dams. The Army Corps of Engineers said Saturday that more water will be released and on a quicker timetable.

The floodgates will be closed when the river reaches 30 feet, topping the 29-foot flood stage, which could happen Sunday.

Public works crews were placing sandbags around the city's wastewater treatment facility near 13th Street and Missouri Avenue to protect the facility from floodwaters.

If the city closes the floodgates — which are near Lewis & Clark Landing on the riverfront — the result of which would be be a flooded landing, closing the popular public gathering place. Rick's Boatyard Cafe would be protected, as would other riverfront structures.

The floodgates allow water to drain out of the city into the river. Closing them means water would pool at the landing.

FULL story at link.

We're in a long drought here in Az. Rainfall is just a fraction of the norm.

to divert the excess water to AZ, NM, and Texas. Sad that the water can't be redirected to areas in this country that could use this water, even if it's temporary or infrquent. But that would require support from Republicans who could value the jobs created and the water needed to sustain the viability of in their desert districts.

of '93? Will this now move to Kansas City as in '93?

They completely screwed up the MO River and we are paying the price today.

For most of the years those dams were in place, barge traffic on the Mississippi dictated the releases in North Dakota. North Dakotans were bitchen because it washed away nesting birds and destroyed the fishing.
They also help save the lower Mississippi from flooding on wet years.
Bismarck had water restrictions some years because of low releases there because of to much water down there.

Now there is just too much water most everywhere.
No way can they please everyone.

renewable electricity and prevent flooding more often. We do not benefit from the electricity because the federal government sold it to downstream states with big cities before the dams were built.

But this year, the run off is so much bigger that there is even flooding around the dams. They have had to increase the release of water to avoid bigger problems.

The flooding all along the system would be much worse if not for the dams.

Stay safe, Steve.