Date: February 8, 2017
Organization: North Dakota Joint Information Center
Contact: Morton County PIO (701) 595-3596 or (701) 426-1587; USGS Public Affairs (303) 526-6694
Mandan, N.D. – In response to upcoming flooding on the Cannonball River this spring, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will be installing a rapid deployment gauge (RDG) on the Cannonball River Bridge on February 15 at 10:00 am. The self-contained stream gauge will provide water level data in the vicinity of Highway 1806 and the Cannonball River during the upcoming flood conditions.
The gauge will assist in monitoring the snowmelt runoff, the changes in the water levels on the Cannonball River, and the potential occurrences of ice jams. The additional water-level monitoring will assist in maintaining the safety of the public downstream.
“Dialogue with the protest camp headsmen and Standing Rock Sioux Tribal leadership will take place this week to facilitate access to the Cannonball River and to ensure a safe platform for the placement of this equipment,” said Morton County Sheriff Kyle Kirchmeier.
The message will also be broadcast over the North Dakota Department of Health low power 1620 AM radio transmitter in the vicinity of the Dakota Access protest camps.