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Tag: flood control
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  • Wintertime Snow and Precipitation Conditions in the Willow Creek Watershed above Ririe Dam, Idaho

    ABSTRACT:  The Ririe Dam and Reservoir project is located on Willow Creek near Idaho Falls, Idaho, and is important for flood risk reduction and water supply. The current operating criteria is based on fully storing a large winter runoff event. These winter runoff events are generally from large storm events, termed atmospheric rivers, which produce substantial precipitation. In addition to the precipitation, enhanced runoff is produced due to frozen soil and snowmelt. However, the need for additional water supply by local stakeholders has prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to seek to better understand the current level of flood risk reduction provided by Ririe Dam and Reservoir.  Flood risk analysis using hydrologic modeling software requires quantification of the probability for all of the hydrometeorologic inputs. Our study develops the precipitation, SWE, and frozen ground probabilities that are required for the hydrologic modeling necessary to quantify the current winter flood risk.
  • Automated Characterization of Ridge-Swale Patterns Along the Mississippi River

    Abstract: The orientation of constructed levee embankments relative to alluvial swales is a useful measure for identifying regions susceptible to backward erosion piping (BEP). This research was conducted to create an automated, efficient process to classify patterns and orientations of swales within the Lower Mississippi Valley (LMV) to support levee risk assessments. Two machine learning algorithms are used to train the classification models: a convolutional neural network and a U-net. The resulting workflow can identify linear topographic features but is unable to reliably differentiate swales from other features, such as the levee structure and riverbanks. Further tuning of training data or manual identification of regions of interest could yield significantly better results. The workflow also provides an orientation to each linear feature to support subsequent analyses of position relative to levee alignments. While the individual models fall short of immediate applicability, the procedure provides a feasible, automated scheme to assist in swale classification and characterization within mature alluvial valley systems similar to LMV.
  • 21-027 Dworshak Dam reservoir continues to refill

    AHSAHKA, Idaho –Dworshak Dam will continue minimum releases of 1,600 cubic feet per second (cfs) as the reservoir refills. Discharges are expected to remain at 1,600 cfs until the last week of May. Water managers will release another announcement regarding Dworshak operations before Memorial Day.
  • Drought conditions driving lowered runoff forecast

    Very dry conditions in April resulted in very low runoff in the upper Missouri River Basin. The upper Basin runoff was 44% of average, which was the 9th driest April in 123 years of record. The updated 2021 upper Basin runoff forecast is 17.8 million acre-feet (MAF), 69% of average, which, if realized, would rank as the 22nd lowest calendar year runoff volume.
  • 21-025 Dworshak Dam has transitioned to refill for the spring

    AHSAHKA, Idaho –Dworshak Dam has decreased discharges to minimum releases of 1,600 cubic feet per second (cfs) as the reservoir enters the spring refill season.
  • 21-022 Dworshak Dam discharges to decrease to minimum flow of 1,600 cfs by April 21

    AHSAHKA, Idaho –Dworshak Dam will be decreasing releases from 7,800 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 1,600 cfs to conserve water for refill. Decreases begin today, April 16, and finish Wednesday, April 21. Fluctuations (up and down) in river flow will be observed April 20 during unit testing. Due to an increase in natural flows, the decreases in Dworshak flows on April 16-19 and 21 are expected to have a minimal impact on water levels.
  • 21-019 Dworshak Dam discharges to increase to 7,800 cfs for upcoming week

    AHSAHKA, Idaho –Dworshak Dam will be increasing releases from 6,900 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 7,800 cfs to support hatchery releases, which resume Monday, April 12.
  • 2021 runoff forecast remains below average; Virtual spring public meetings April 6

    Reservoir inflows in the Missouri River basin above Sioux City, Iowa (upper Basin) were well-below average in March. The updated 2021 upper Basin runoff forecast is 21.3 million acre-feet (MAF), 83% of average.
  • 21-016 Dworshak Dam discharges to decrease to 6,900 cfs for upcoming week

    AHSAHKA, Idaho –Dworshak Dam will be decreasing releases from 9,700 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 6,900 cfs to conserve water between hatchery releases, which resume Monday, April 12. Current basin conditions and a forecast for slightly below normal precipitation for the next 10 days drive the decrease.
  • 21-014 Dworshak Dam discharges to increase to 9,700 cfs for upcoming week to support hatchery releases

    AHSAHKA, Idaho – Dworshak Dam will be increasing releases to 9,700 cubic feet per second (cfs), to support hatchery releases which begin Wednesday, March 31.