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Friday morning update

Flooding recedes after 7½ inches of rain in Durham, but record reservoir level continues to lead to downstream flooding

Staff writer

Water was receding Friday morning, a day after intense thunderstorms dumped up to 7½ inches on northern Marion County, flooding Durham, swelling Marion Reservoir to record levels above its capacity, and forcing release of water that created additional flooding downstream.

All but scattered flooding was reported in Durham by Friday morning, where the entire downtown was under 3 to 4 feet of water and 10 residences were evacuated Thursday.

The North Cottonwood River there rose 25 feet from its normal depth of just 10 feet. It crested at 2 p.m. Thursday and by 7 a.m. Friday was back within 4 feet of normal.

During the flooding, water rose over sandbags frantically stacked at Main Street Cafe and was said to be more than 8 inches up on the cafe's windows.

"This is a losing battle down here," one Durham firefighter engaged in sandbagging said at the time. "It's up to the chairs. I think we're losing this one."

Floodwaters also were reported over a bridge on 5th St., and fire trucks had to move to higher ground after 6 to 8 inches of water were reported in the fire station.

Although most of the rain had left the county by 11 a.m. Thursday, numerous roads remained flooded in the afternoon.

Even as these floodwaters were receding, more roads began flooding in the evening after unprecedented overloading of Marion Reservoir forced engineers to release massive amounts of water.

Radar-indicated precipitation totals from Thursday morning’s storms showed the greatest impact in the northwestern portion of the county:

Marion Reservoir quickly rose more than 2½ feet. By 3 p.m. Thursday, it had surpassed a 23-year high water mark. By 6 p.m. it had set an all-time record, which it continued to break every hour afterward until cresting at midnight, at a record elevation of 1,359.01 feet. Reservoir level receded to its normal maximum, 1,358.50 feet, by 8 a.m. Friday.

The record level was more than 6 inches above the reservoir's rated emergency capacity, more than 8½ feet above normal, and less than 9 feet from the top of the dam — despite all three of its massive tainter gates being open an unprecedented 3 feet to allow 94,000 gallons of water to be released every second.

Put in perspective, water was flowing out of Marion Reservoir at midnight at a rate that would fill 8½ Olympic-size swimming pools every minute — 23½ tons of water every 60 seconds. Normal outflow, with just one gate open 6 inches, is less than a tenth of that.

Still, water continued to pour into the reservoir even faster than it could be released until midnight.

Throughout the day, the Corps of Engineers had dramatically increased the amount of water being released from the reservoir — quadrupling it at noon, doubling it again at 5 p.m., then increasing it by half again at 6 p.m. They finally backed off a bit at 5 a.m. Friday, lowering the gates to a still very unsuual 2½ feet.

All these increases in outflow were despite the fact that the Cottonwood River downstream from the dam was already over its banks as early as 1 p.m. Thursday

By 3 a.m. Friday, excessive releases from the reservoir sent the Cottonwood to a crest of 9½ feet over flood stage just below the dam and 17½ feet over flood stage at Marion's levee. At 7 a.m., the Cottonwood was 1½ feet above flood stage at Florence and was continuing to rise.

The outflows flooded the reservoir's main access, Pawnee Rd. north of US-56, as well with K-256, Remington Rd., and 190th Rd. west of Marion and Sunflower Rd. south of Marion beginning around 6 p.m. Thursday.

Additional closures, along 140th Rd., Nighthawk Rd., and 190th Rd., were reported later. Many roads between Marion Dam and Florence remained closed Friday morning.

Firefighters were called at 11:36 p.m. Thursday to rescue a motorist caught in high water on 190th between Quail Creek and Remington. While on the call, rescuers discovered a second stranded vehicle and attempted to reach it.

First reports of flooding Thursday came from Goessel, where firefighters helped sandbag Keith’s Foods, which reportedly was filling with water at 5:37 a.m.

Propane tanks from MFA Oil in Tampa were reported floating downstream toward the reservoir at 11 a.m. Thursday.

A truck left in a field the day before was reported flooded up to its windows off 330th Rd. west of K-15.

Hampered by high water, firefighters from Tampa and Ramona struggled to reach an occupied vehicle from Herington that was threatened by the rising water on 330th east of Tampa. The vehicle eventually managed to escape the water on its own and return to Herington.

K-15 was reported flooded between 310th and 320th Rds.

Extensive flooding, in some cases half a mile wide and “really deep,” as Tampa fire chief Ron Mueller put it, was reported along 330th Rd. east of Tampa and along Jade and Limestone Rds. near 330th.

Emergency management director Randy Frank reported the water was six to eight inches deep.

Water flowing “deep and fast,” according to Lincolnville fire chief Lester Kaiser, was across 300th Rd. west of US-56/77. He also reported flooding in two spots along 290th Rd. half a mile west of Lincolnville.

Water was reported across 310th Rd. east of Centre High School. Half a mile of Wagon Wheel Rd. north of 310th Rd. was reported underwater.

A low-water bridge just east of K-15 and 290th was reported flooded as was a section of Nighthawk Rd. near 290th.

Last modified July 5, 2019

 

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