Minor flooding along Walker River
By Jeff Delong, Reno Gazette-Journal
Rushing waters from a melting snowpack are causing some flooding problems along the Walker River, with flows expected to peak later this week, experts said Monday.
Minor to moderate flooding occurred in Mason Valley on Monday after officials were forced to release large volumes of water from Topaz and Bridgeport reservoirs. Similar flooding is expected upstream along the West Walker River Wednesday and Thursday in the Walker and Coleville, Calif., area.
No serious problems are reported due to the flooding in Mason Valley.
“There are no structures being affected. There is just a lot of water out in the fields, and the ditches are running full,” said Gary Barbato, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service in Reno.
Experts hope enough water was released from Topaz and Bridgeport reservoirs to capture peak runoff flowing from the West Walker River Wednesday and Thursday without more releases being necessary, Barbato said.
“Hopefully, it’s as high as it’s going to get” in Mason Valley, Barbato said.
Flows are expected to be about a half-foot above flood stage in Walker and Coleville, Calif., and downstream to Topaz Lake Wednesday and Thursday.
The West Fork of the Carson River is expected to “barely touch” flood stage this week between Woodfords and Genoa, with no serious problems expected there, Barbato said.