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Authority Increases Floodwater Discharges at Pensacola and Kerr Dams

Grand River Dam Authority

The Grand River Dam Authority is letting out more water than initially planned at Pensacola and Kerr dams.

GRDA’s Justin Alberty said despite the flows being 20 to 40 percent higher than first expected, downstream evacuations are not mandatory.

"We're still releasing over 220,000 [cubic feet per second] at both sites, at both Pensacola Dam and Kerr Dam," Alberty said. "We'll reassess that working with the corps. The [U.S. Army] Corps of Engineers, of course, will run their model."

USACE decided yesterday more gates at both dams should be opened, increasing flows from 150,000 cfs at Pensacola Dam and 180,000 cfs at Kerr Dam. An evacuation warning is still in place for people living downstream.

"We sent that out again last night, and, of course, that's not a mandatory evacuation at this time," Alberty said.

GRDA, USACE and emergency managers will reassess the discharge needs today. Yesterday, Grand Lake was 13 feet above normal, while Lake Hudson was up 15 feet.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.