FLOOD UPDATES: Officials ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ at Cowlitz River in Randle

Flooding on the Cowlitz at Randle

Water gushes through the Mayfield Dam in this video taken this morning. 

Mayfield Dam

Cowlitz River at Toledo

Cowlitz River at Toledo

Posted

3:30 p.m. Friday: Officials ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ at Cowlitz River in Randle:

 

2 p.m. 

 

10 a.m. Friday

Mayfield Dam Opens Spillway Due to East County Flooding, Cowlitz Stays Within its Banks in Toledo 

While The Cowlitz east of Mossyrock swelled to moderate and major flood stage late this week, Toledo largely escaped the minor flooding predicted by the National Weather Service. 

The Cowlitz below Mayfield dam rose to just below flood stage Thursday due to the Mayfield Dam opening its spillways due to predicted flooding upstream. 

The city of Toledo is situated along the banks of the Cowlitz, and on Thursday morning, Mayor Steve Dobosh said the city was keeping a close eye on the river and had sandbags ready at the fire station. The city had cameras set up to monitor the river so that the city can watch the water level in various locations on TVs in city hall. As of Friday morning, the city of Toledo said they were not experiencing any flooding. 

Andy Caldwell, deputy emergency management director for Lewis County, said the because of the water release at the Mayfield Dam Toledo is now not expected to experience flooding. 

“What Toledo is actually controlled by (is) how much the Mayfield Dam is actually letting out. Unless the Mayfield notifies us of an increase the levels should stay the same going through Toledo,” Caldwell said.

Michelle Witten, Toledo city manager, said that the first place they see flooding is at the city park and the people on the banks are usually fine.

John Cravens with Toledo Public Works said that he isn’t too worried about flooding in the city because of the speed the water is flowing.

“We won’t know until the full level comes down from the releases but obviously it might come up a little more but to what extent we won’t know until it happens but it’s flowing good and it’s getting out… I think it should probably pass through,” Cravens said.

The Mayfield Dam located in Mossyrock is a 250-foot high, 850-foot long concrete arch and gravity dam. Witten said that it is her understanding that the Mayfield Dam is releasing 25,000 cubic feet of water per second.

 

8:30 a.m. Friday

The Cowlitz River at Randle has reached moderate flood stage and was predicted to continue to rise throughout the day. 

As of 8:30 a.m. Friday, the Cowlitz had reached 20.07 feet above sea level, two feet above flood stage. It is predicted to rise another two feet, just skimming the threshold for major flooding, before cresting tonight. 

Friday morning’s prediction represents a slight decrease from earlier forecasts, which predicted the water could rise to more than 23 feet, well in to major flooding. 

“Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated another one to two inches of rain in the foothills and Cascades up to a half inch of rain in the lowlands overnight,” the National Weather Service posted Friday morning. “Rain will come to an end this morning but rivers will remain high. Rain will increase late today and continue into early Saturday but amounts are not expected to hydrologically significant.”

While Randle is expecting flooding, the rest of East Lewis County is on a winter storm warning starting Friday afternoon.

Heavy snow — including 10 to 20 inches of accumulation — is predicted for areas above 3,000 feet in elevation. 

The National Weather Service is also warning of an increased landslide risk for areas in Western Washington below 5,000 feet in elevation due to soil saturation from recent rain. 

While minor flooding was predicted on the Cowlitz River below Mayfield Dam, specifically at Toledo, the river stayed just below minor flood stage through Friday. Mayfield Dam was releasing extra water due to predictions for flooding upstream. 

As of this morning, the Newaukum River at Chehalis was cresting in the minor flood level, at about a foot above flood stage. 

The Skookumchuck River at Bucoda is expected to have some minor flooding, with the waters cresting just above the minor flood level late Friday.

 

Noon update: Here's a look at the Mayfield Dam as it releases excess water Thursday morning. 

 



 

11:50 a.m. update: Lewis County Emergency Operations Center Activated for Flooding Potential

Below is an update from the Lewis County Department of Emergency Management: 

This morning at 9:31 a.m., Lewis County Emergency Management Deputy Director Andy Caldwell activated the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at Level I, enhanced operations, in response the National Weather Service (NWS) flood warnings for the following areas:

• Cowlitz at Randle – Major Flooding predicted

• Cowlitz below Mayfield Dam - Minor Flooding 

• Nisqually near National – Minor Flooding

• Newaukum near Chehalis – Minor Flooding

“Our greatest concern at this time is for the residents in Randle,” reports Deputy Director Caldwell. “The weather service is predicting a major impact with a flood crest Friday at 23.37 feet; not too far from the record flood of 2006 at 25.2 feet.” 

Sandbags are available at many local fire stations, however, citizens need to be able to fill them themselves.

The EOC will continue operations with expanded hours depending upon the National Weather Service updates.  Citizens are advised to monitor local media or their personal alerting systems and be ready to take immediate action as necessary.

Remember: Don’t drive through flood covered roadways. This is the number one cause of flood deaths. Turn around, don’t drown!

•••

The National Weather Service is predicting moderate to major flooding from the Cowlitz River through Friday, according to a flood warning issued Wednesday afternoon, as well as minor flooding on the Newaukum River in Chehalis and the Skookumchuck in Bucoda. 

“Heavy rain has started and is forecast to last through Friday morning,” the warning states. “Combined with the heavy rain event this last weekend, this is driving rivers flowing off of the Cascades above flood stage to moderate or major flood. With that amount of water in the Cowlitz River and reservoirs, even that river below Mayfield Dam will go to flood flow.”

NWS data shows the Cowlitz River is predicted to rise into major flooding at Randle, cresting sometime Friday morning. The river is predicted to crest at about 4.5 feet above flood stage, which is 18 feet above sea level.

“Twenty-two feet is our major flood state,” said Andy Caldwell, deputy director of emergency management for Lewis county. “If Randle floods, it’s landlocked.”

Caldwell advised residents to sign up for Lewis County Alert at lewiscountywa.gov/departments/emergency-management/lewis-county-alert/ to get updated information about flooding and evacuations if it comes to that. 

As of Thursday morning, the county was setting up its emergency operations center and no evacuations had yet been ordered. 

“Prepare your property, stay informed and prepare to leave,” Caldwell said. “There’s no reason to not be ready.”

The NWS is predicting minor flooding for the Cowlitz River below Mayfield Dam, at Mossyrock, with water expected to crest this evening at 25,001 cubic feet per second (cfs).

The flooding in Toledo is caused by Mossyrock Dam releasing excess water due to predicted flooding farther east at Randle. 

“At 25,000 cfs, the Cowlitz River will flood the reach from Mayfield Dam downstream through Toledo,” according to the warning. “Flood waters will inundate some farmlands and several roads … mainly near Toledo.”

On Thursday morning, flooding was not yet reported in the downtown Toledo area, and the river was moving very quickly.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Lewis County imposed an emergency restriction for the entire length of Tucker Road in Toledo, due to “climatic conditions.” The closure will be in effect until further notice. 

“All truckers are advised to take alternate routes,” a notice from the Lewis County Public Works department reads. “Emergency vehicles and school buses are exempt. Trucks that are delivering within the properties adjacent to Tucker Road that provide services for the health and welfare of county residents can be issued permits to use Tucker Road on a case-by-case basis.”

Gov. Jay Inslee issued an emergency proclamation for 19 counties Wednesday — including Lewis County — threatened by flooding through this weekend.

“These storms caused injuries, significant power outages, evacuations, road damage, temporary road closures and detours, rail line closures, and extensive damage to homes, businesses, public utilities, public facilities, electrical power systems, infrastructure and property,” Inslee said in the proclamation.

The proclamation includes Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum and Whatcom Counties.

The Chronicle will update this story when more information is available.