Public Notice: High Flow Event Notice for the Owasco River in effect

NOTICE OF HIGH FLOWS  Owasco River, Auburn, NY

August 20, 2021 Owasco River High Flow Event Update 9 a.m.

“This is, I hope, the last update from me as it relates to Hurricane Fred.  Fred was persistent, grumpy, and a force to be reckoned with for Auburn.  We are all very lucky to have such dedicated staff in this DMU, - rising to the occasion, working in the background, and serving this community with pride.” Seth Jensen, Director of Municipal Utilities, City of Auburn

• 7.64” of rainfall hit Auburn over the past couple of days. 
• 2021 is experiencing the second most rainfall in a summer on record with a few more weeks to go, just topping the year of 1972 with Hurricane Agnes. 
• We are now seeing storm and sewer systems decline in flow.  The City Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) was hit the hardest due to this event, the facility ran at maximum capacity for the longest duration that it has in quite some time. Department of Municipal Utilities (DMU) is assessing all necessary improvements required over the next couple of weeks, prioritizing components as we go. 
• Lake elevation crested around 714.9’ msl this morning. 
• Owasco River flow peaked around 2400 cfs as recorded in Auburn. 
• DMU Staff will continue to monitor critical assets in the City of Auburn on an hourly basis for at least the next 24 hours, reassessing as flow continues to decline. 
• The City DMU will do our best over the course of next week to level Owasco Lake back out around 712.75’ msl.  We are watching the direction and predictions of Hurricane Henri very closely.

August 19, 2021 Owasco River High Flow Event Update at 3:30 p.m.

• Total Measured Rainfall at City of Auburn Water Filtration Plant:  5.55”
• Total Measured Rainfall in Owasco Watershed: 4 – 6” depending on location

Owasco Lake Elevation: 

• Target Elevation – 712.75 msl 
• Current Elevation –  714.47 msl and rising.  We anticipate lake elevation to increase potentially beyond  715 msl (this level would be minor flood stage according to Army Corp of Engineers Rule Curve)

Owasco River Flow:

• Current Flow of the Owasco River in Auburn in Auburn is 2200 cfs
• Flow conditions of the river are very high.  Department of Municipal Utilities (DMU) staff will be monitoring all dams and bridge overpasses (specifically Genesee Street Bridge by Hunters and Washington St Bridge) every hour through the night as this high flow condition continues.

Wastewater Treatment Plant:

• Record flows for record duration was observed today at the Wastewater Treatment Plant.  Flows came up to a maximum capacity of 52 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) and the plant, although inundated, performed very well under the careful direction of operations staff.  We expect flows to continue to decline over the next 24 hours as our system drains.  Normal plant flows are 8 MGD.

Sewer Collection System:

• Miller Street, Genesee Street, and Wadsworth Street Combined Sewer Overflow Stations (CSO’s) all activated during the wet weather but are now inactive.
• The North, South, and Owasco Interceptor were all at capacity but as of 08-10-2021 2:30 pm flows have begun to recede.
• Storage and Release Facility – pump failures and electrical issues required staff to run the facility in hand – trying to best optimize flow through the facility and the South Interceptor during the day.
• All small streams and brooks were at record capacity today.  Cranebrook overflowed its banks completely surrounding Xylem’s facility, forcing evacuation and closure of the business for the day. 

Genesee Street Water Main Work:

• Water Department is planning to complete this work Friday, August 20.  Once the water main is repaired, we will do our best to complete the blacktop restoration as well. 

Posted August 19, 2021 at 10 a.m.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that A HIGH FLOW EVENT is in effect beginning on the 19th day of August 2021 in the Owasco River. Due to extremely wet weather received over the past 48 hours, flow in the Owasco River will remain above 1000 cubic feet per second (CFS) for the next few days.  The HIGH FLOW EVENT is expected to continue through the weekend of August 20-22.

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public to stay away from and use extreme caution near and around the Owasco River.  Several areas along the Owasco River and all other streams in the City have already experienced localized flooding and there will continue to be an increased risk for localized flooding and personal injury can result in areas along these rivers, brooks and streams, as well as, downstream from the City of Auburn. The public should take caution and avoid unnecessary contact with the Owasco River and other water tributaries at all times.

The City of Auburn Department of Municipal Utilities will be continually monitoring flow and downstream flooding impacts during this event. Flow in the Owasco River will be reduced once upstream flows and lake elevation normalize, however, this will take the next few days.

The High River Flow Notification and Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for the Mill Street Dam and State Dam have been initiated.  Department of Municipal Utilities staff will continue to monitor river flow and all critical assets on a regular basis. 

The City Sewer Department has been dispatched since 3 am responding to backed up basements due to high flows in our sewer system.   Interceptor sewers are currently flowing at capacity. 

The City Wastewater Treatment Plant has been at max capacity of 52 MGD since 1 am.  Normal treatment flow is approximately 8 million gallons a day (MGD).  Our Combined Sewer Overflow facilities (CSO’s) are activated since yesterday and we’re following all NYSDEC NYALERT protocols associated with sewer overflows because of wet weather.

Owasco Lake Elevation is nearing 714.20 significantly above the normal target of 712.75 and will likely continue to rise over the next 24 hours due to even heavier rainfalls south of Auburn.

To report any concerns associated with high water flows the public can call the City Water Filtration Plant at (315) 253-8754.