Kansas River near Manhattan
The Emergency Operations Center in Manhattan has reopened to monitor rising water levels on Tuttle Creek Lake and the Kansas River. Officials from Riley County and Pottawatomie County are monitoring the situation.
No advisories have been issued for areas downstream of Tuttle Creek Dam at this time but residents should be aware of weather conditions and have a plan to evacuate safely if the situation changes.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve gone through this. In 1993 the lake came up and went down three times before the flood. Right now we’reworking with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to track information prepare people for the possibility of flooding. We’re not out of the woods and people need to stay alert and aware,” said Pat Collins, Riley County Emergency Manager.
The height of the Kansas River will have an effect on the flood potential for neighborhoods in Manhattan. If the Kansas River is at 18 feet or higher, a release from Tuttle Creek Reservoir of 20,000 cubic feet per second could cause some flooding in neighborhoods. The Kansas River was expected to reach 18.1 feet on Thursday.
The Riley County Public Works department plans to close boat ramps at Rocky Ford Park and Fairmont Friday morning to help ensure safety.
More information is available on the City of Manhattan website at www.cityofmhk.com/flood and on Facebook ManhattanFloodUpdates