May 18, 2013
Crews dump rock, sandbags on eroding ND spillway
LaMOURE, N.D. (AP) - Crews in southeastern North Dakota are working in strong winds to reinforce a dam spillway that's being eroded by flood waters.
The earthen Cottonwood Creek Dam at Lake LaMoure (lah-MOHR') is about 20 miles from the nearest community. Its greatest threat is to farms and roads. Nearby farms have been evacuated as a
precaution.
A state engineer says the dam itself is stable, but "not under control" because of a lot of wind that's blowing a lot of water,
resulting in big waves.
In Jamestown, N.D., along the James River, there's some good news. The Army Corps of Engineers says its updated forecasts show water will not flow over the spillway at Pipestem Dam north of the city as earlier predicted.
Valley City, about 30 miles from Jamestown, has been battling the Sheyenne River, which has overwhelmed its sewer system. The National Weather Service says the Sheyenne has dropped just below its record level of 20 feet, and is not expected to drop much
during the week.
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