Watching For Flood Year Declaration - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Watching For Flood Year Declaration

Who will have control over the Souris-Mouse River system as winter turns to the spring thaw?

That is a question that will soon be answered...and it is all dependent on the amount of moisture that is believed to be in the system.

In normal, non-high water years years, the operation of the US dam in the system -- Lake Darling -- belongs to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

However, when it is decided that it will more than likely be what is called a 'one in ten' year event, operations go over to the US Corps of Engineers.

That also means much more communication with Canadian officials about operations of the dams north of the border to handle higher water flows in the system.

(Alan Schlag - National Weather Service) "The question to whether or not this will be a one in ten year event is really a decision that is made by the International Souris River Board at their late winter meeting and that is in mid to late February. That is when it will be discussed whether or not it qualifies."

The International Souris River Board makes that call based on information they receive from many sources, including the National Weather Service and Schlag.