By Dewey Terrill

JC Post

The Corps of Engineers has to hold water in Milford Reservoir to avoid causing downstream flooding during the current wet spell.

The Project Manager for the Corps at the lake, Bill Whitworth, reported Wednesday, that the latest projection is that the reservoir will rise approximately four feet over the next nine days, given no significent change in precipitation. “The lake is nearly 14 feet higher than normal. Water won’t go over the emergency spillway until another 18 feet or so, which is not likely.”

Whitworth reported to a Milford Lake stakeholders meeting the Corps is maintaining increased surveillance of the Milford Lake Dam. He told JC Post, “The dam is holding up and doing everything it is supposed to do. It was designed to hold a lot more water than it is. We do check the relief wells and the other instrumentation to make sure that it’s functioning as it should.  Whitworth added there have been no other major issues.

As the water level rises Whitworth confirmed a number of individual camp sites and campground loops have been closed.  Boat ramps still available for use include the one at West Rolling Hills and Fort Riley Marina boat ramp. “Other boat ramps are open but they require shallow drafting boats. Some of the bigger V-bottoms won’t be able to use those.