With eleven eleven inches of new snow and warmer temps on the way attention is turning to what happens when it all melts – and how high will rivers go.
The last flood outlook issued by the National Weather Service put the 50-50 crest mark in Grand Forks/Eat Grand Forks at around 44.4 feet. With the recent precipitation many observers now expect the 25th percentile to be more a more accurate measurement – or 46.5 feet.
Grand Forks City Engineer Al Grasser says they are already making plans for this year’s flood fight. In a city council briefing Grasser says even at that level the city should be well protected. “Flood protection clay levees are at an elevation of a rive gauge of 60 feet. The flood walls go to 63 feet. The highest elevation we have actually fought with this system is 51 feet.”
Grasser says one of the first steps marking the flood season is the signing of a Declaration of Emergency by the mayor. He says the document has already been drafted. “The declaration is one of these things that is a starting-off point to access state and federal resources and our internal emergency funding.”
Similar actions are being taken on the East Grand Forks side of the river.
A couple of points of interest…..the Sorlie Bridge closure happens at around 43.5 feet….Minnesota Avenue 44 to 45 feet….and the Kennedy Bridge at 52-53 feet
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