Flooding not a concern for Green River

While some portions of the state are experiencing flooding from increased precipitation, flooding in Green River isn’t a concern.

According to data from the National Weather Service, Sweetwater County received between 1 and 2 inches of precipitation in the last 60 days, with the Green River municipal area receiving between 2 and 4 inches.

On average, 10 inches of snowfall is calculated as 1 inch of liquid precipitation, though the ratio can change depending on the type of snow falling as powdery types of snow have less water content that usual.

At the Fontenelle Reservoir, upstream from Green River, inflow capacity totaled 148 percent of the average for January, amounting to 44,600 acre-feet. The Colorado Basin River Forecast Center anticipates above average spring inflows for February, March and April as well.

The center expects approximately 35,000 acre-feet in February, 60,000 in March and 120,000 acre feet in April. Releases from the dam are listed 1,025 cubic feet per second, with flows anticipated to increase to 1,750 cubic--feet per second March 1.

Judy Roderick, the county’s emergency management agency coordinator, said flooding in Green River isn’t a concern as the river has two dams regulating water flow. She said the dams can keep control of how much water is released downstream, which results in Green River having a steady flow of river water running through the city.

While flooding along the Green River is unlikely, the Green River Fire Department has had to put up sandbags for a residence within the city.

Fire Chief Mike Nomis said the department responded to a call from an address on East Teton Boulevard concerning water runoff starting to flood a house. Nomis said the runoff was caused by the soil being oversaturated and unable to contain the water resulting from melted snow.

Nomis said that house was the only residence in Green River needing sandbags to control snow melt.