PipestemLake78thAvSEJamestown (CSi) Releases have ended for the season from Jamestown and Pipestem Dams.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Pipestem Dam, Manager, Bob Martin says, the only water coming into the dams at this time is ground water.

He says releases from Jamestown Dam ended on August 17, 2015. The last water release from Pipestem Dam was on September 17, 2015. The last 6 inches of water released from Pipestem that were drawn from the bottom of the lake, contained no oxygen and not able to support aquatic life.

Martin adds the water picked up oxygen as it went through the release pipes and flowed into the pond behind the dam.

Some winter releases from both dams are possible, however Martin points out the releases would likely be short term rather than all winter.

Last winter, a 5-cubic-feet-per-second release from the bottom of Pipestem Dam was maintained all winter to improve water quality.

Martin says 2015 was a normal year for water flows through the James River. Corps officials estimated about 77,000 acre-feet of water flowed through the two reservoirs and the city of Jamestown. An acre-foot is enough water to cover 1 acre of land to a depth of 1 foot. It contains about 326,000 gallons.

Water levels at Pipestem and Jamestown Dams, are on target for winter-water storage, as those levels are reached by controlled releases of water through the summer.

He says in the winter months discharges are managed to minimize downstream ice buildups.