Green River flows climb; Snoqualmie River very high near Carnation

King County has issued a Phase Three flood alert for the Green River, where a planned water release by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from a flood control dam is expected to keep stream flows elevated this morning.

The Green is one of several rivers that staff at the King County Flood Warning Center have been closely monitoring since the center opened at 4 a.m. yesterday. River levels also remain very high on the Tolt River and, particularly, the lower Snoqualmie River, with significant flooding occurring across much of those watersheds.

While water is receding on the upper Snoqualmie, the river level near Carnation is expected to approach record levels as high water moves through the system. According to the National Weather Service, the river was expected to crest near Carnation at 10 a.m. at a flood stage of 60.3 feet.

As for the Green River, some minor flooding could be expected in the Green River Valley above Auburn as a result of the high flows. King County crews have been monitoring levees in the Green River Valley to ensure they are working properly.

As of 3 a.m., the Green River was flowing at 9,140 cubic feet per second (cfs) at Auburn, exceeding the Phase Three flood alert threshold of 9,000 cfs. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which operates a flood-control dam on the two rivers, is regulating flows so that additional flood-storage capacity can be created behind the dams.

Flood Warning Center staff will continue to monitor stream gauges and weather reports and provide updated information on river conditions as necessary. Real-time river level information is available online at www.kingcounty.gov/flood.

Updated information on flooding will also be posted on the King County Web site at www.kingcounty.gov, or via RPIN, the area's regional Web site at http://www.rpin.org. A recorded flood-information hotline is also updated each hour for citizens wanting information in flood areas. The number is 206-296-8200 or 1-800-945-9263.

Citizens who need help interpreting flood information should call 206-296-4535 or 1-800-768-7932. Problems on county maintained roads can be reported by calling 206-296-8100 or 1-800-KC-ROADS.

Related Information:

Flooding Services and Information

River and Floodplain Management Section

Water and Land Resources Division