Limited Sandbag Distribution Starts Saturday

Melting headwaters are a dynamic moving target that Bureau of Reclamation Supervisor, John Lawson, hopes to control over the next six weeks.

An emergency flood management meeting Monday was packed as Lawson shared projections on flow scenarios; the worst being more precipitation falling on the record snow-pack that has yet to melt.

Reclamation Manager, John Lawson, predicts Pathfinder will over flow its spillway by around May 25th bringing river levels to around 6000 cubic feet per second.

Lt Stu Anderson, Emergency Manager for Natrona County, says calls are starting to come in asking about sand bags, and by the close of the meeting, those present agreed to start  distribution this weekend.

"We're gonna set up sandbag stations, but on a limited basis. In other words, they'll be manned, bags handed out and there will be sand available, but they wont be distributed to everybody. We'll make sure they're in the danger zones or those zones threatened by the Platte River flood area.

If your concerned, contact the emergency manager for your area.

Exact distribution locations and times will be released over the next couple days.

Audrey Grey, from the Natrona County Health Department says water treatment plants in Mills and Evansville are being monitored. If water levels go above intake values it could compromise drinking water quality.  Grey also cautions people to stay out of the flood waters, "because there are things taken off of the banks of the river that aren't necessarily in the water normally. So we would encourage people not to be in the water."

Meantime John Lawson says they've told park managers at Glendo to expect flooding there to be at least a foot higher this year than last. He says Glendo officials are looking at ways to relocate campsites for the season.