WILMINGTON, N.C. –The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District, water managers continue to monitor downstream river conditions in the Neuse and Cape Fear River Basins. While some downstream locations along the Neuse and Cape Fear River remain well above flood stage, all locations have peaked and are receding.
Releases from Wilmington District's Falls and Jordan Dams have been held at zero to minimum so far; however, water managers will be gradually increasing releases throughout the week to begin bringing lake levels back down. Floodwaters from Hurricane Florence into Jordan and Falls Lakes filled 60 percent and 50 percent of their respective flood storage pools, preventing even worse flood damages downstream.
Releases from Jordan Dam are being increased starting Monday and will be gradually increased over the next several days to near 10,000 cubic feet per second (cfs). Despite these higher releases, locations downstream will not see river levels return to flood stage due to these releases.
Releases from Falls Dam will be gradually increased starting Tuesday and will be increased to at least 4000 cfs over the next several days. Additional increases of 1000-2000 cfs are possible as downstream conditions in the lower Neuse Basin continue to improve. According to Wilmington District water managers, releases from Falls Dam will take several days to reach downstream areas. Given the lengthy travel time between Falls Dam and downstream locations, by the time those releases reach downstream areas, river levels will be back down below flood stage and will remain below flood stage. These higher releases from both Falls and Jordan will likely be needed for at least a couple of weeks to bring lake levels back down near normal.
Release no. 18-013