With flood reduction project, NWS to end forecast services for Park River at Grafton

The National Weather Service in Grand Forks will discontinue river forecast services for the gauging location at Grafton on the Park River, effective Feb. 9^th.

N-W-S officials say, in the spring of 2020, the City of Graftons Flood Risk Reduction Project was completed, which removed the city from the 100-year flood plain.

The project now provides permanent flood protection. Therefore, stage forecasts for the legacy Grafton gauging location are obsolete.

In addition to the discontinuation of 7-day deterministic forecasts leading up to and during high water, probabilistic outlook information will also cease to be issued.

Impact statements associated with this gauging site will be removed from the associated Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service page on Feb. 9^th.

Updated impact statements may be added in the future once post-diversion flooding has occurred and any impacts reassessed.

Stage readings for the site will continue to be provided by the United States Geological Survey and displayed on the associated Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service webpage.

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NWS statement:

Effective Thursday, February 9, 2023, the National Weather Service
(NWS) in Grand Forks, ND will discontinue river forecast services
for the gaging location at Grafton on the Park River in North Dakota
(NWSLI GRNN8).
In the spring of 2020, the City of Grafton`s Flood Risk Reduction
Project was completed. The completion of this project removed the
city of Grafton, ND from the 100-year flood plain and now provides
permanent flood protection. Therefore, stage forecasts for the
legacy Grafton gaging location are obsolete.
In addition to the discontinuation of 7-day deterministic forecasts
leading up to and during high water, probabilistic outlook
information will also cease to be issued. Impact statements
associated with this gaging site will be removed from the associated
AHPS page on the effective date. Updated impact statements may be
added in the future once post-diversion flooding has occurred and
any impacts reassessed.
Stage readings for this site will continue to be provided by the
United States Geological Survey (USGS) and displayed on the
associated Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) webpage.
Historical crest information (stage-based) will also remain on the
associated AHPS page and continue to be updated.
Affected hydrologic products include
-Flood Warnings (BISFLWFGF)
-Flood Statements (BISFLSFGF)
-Flood Watches (BISFFAFGF)
-Hydrologic Statements (BISRVSFGF)
-Probabilistic Outlooks (BISESFFGF)
-National and local AHPS webpages
This change has been coordinated with the NWS North Central River
Forecast Center, City of Grafton, Walsh County Emergency Management,
and the USGS Grand Forks.