The Sabine River Authority is releasing water from Toledo Bend dam and moderate flooding is predicted in the Deweyville area. However, the releases are a fraction of the amount that was released during the March 2016 flood. No flooding is predicted along the Sabine in Orange.
The river authority reports 11 gates are open at one foot each and both generators are operating. The gates are releasing 11,000 cubic feet of water per second and the generators are released 13,525 cubic feet per second for a total of 24,425 cubic feet per second.
During the 2016 flood, the dam was releasing 180,144 cubic feet of per second.
The reservoir is currently at 172.7 feet and is considered full at 172 feet. The level during March 2016 reached a record 174.36 feet.
More rain is in the forecast during the next three days, but the National Weather Service forecast for Orange County says the rainfall will amount to about a quarter of an inch on Wednesday and Thursday.
At 3 p.m. Monday afternoon, the river at Deweyville was at 25.1 feet with flood stage at 24 feet. The National Weather Service predicts the river to crest at 26.5 feet on Thursday to Friday. In 2016, the river in Deweyville crested at a record 33.28 feet.
The Sabine at Pier Road in Orange at 4 p.m. is at 1.5 feet with flood stage 4 feet. The National Weather Service says the river predictions in Orange “are issued as needed during times of high water,” but are not routinely reported. The Pier Road rain gauge recorded 0.6 inch fell on Sunday.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
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