Skagit River nears flood stage
2 Comments | Email | Print | 825 views Kate Martin | Skagit Valley Herald
November 17, 2009 - 11:59 AM
Last Updated: November 17, 2009 - 12:00 PM

MOUNT VERNON — The Skagit River is about to crest near flood stage.

Officials with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Seattle are monitoring the river, which has risen nearly 10 feet in 48 hours.

Corps meteorologist Larry Schick said the corps has taken control of the Upper Baker Dam to lessen any potential flooding.

Schick said he doesn’t expect the Skagit to flood, either in Concrete or in Mount Vernon.

Schick said during the winter the corps reserves space behind Upper Baker Dam and Ross Dam to store water when a flood threatens. The water is then released after the river crests.

“We expect to be back to normal operations by Wednesday,” Schick said.

While another storm is coming through by the end of this week, Schick said it won’t be as large as the last two storms.

The river should peak just below flood stage, said Blaine Chesterfield, engineering manager with the city of Mount Vernon.

He and city staff members are keeping an eye on the river.

“We’re not really worried about a flood right now,” Chesterfield said. “Predictions from the National Weather Service say its supposed to peak at close to 27 feet, which isn’t really a concern for the downtown Mount Vernon area.”

Flood stage for the Skagit River is 28 feet, both in Mount Vernon and in Concrete.

The river level in Mount Vernon was 27.1 feet and rising at 11 a.m. The river at Concrete was at 27.6 feet and rising.





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Latest comments

That’s mature.  Do you know how much money people lose due to the rivers around flooding? Property is damaged, houses ruined, families forced…

Posted November 18, 2009 - 03:47 AM by MrsCarter

Flood baby flood.

Posted November 17, 2009 - 12:14 PM by SkagitonianYouth


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