Sedgwick County has announced that the flood gates will be opened at Cheney Lake because the water level continues to rise after recent heavy rains in the area.
The federal Bureau of Reclamation notified county officials Tuesday that the gates will be gradually opened at 6 a.m. Wednesday, and they will be completely open by the afternoon. The water will flow along the North Fork of the Ninnescah River from below the dam to the confluence with the South Fork, and that portion will overflow by 8 a.m. There will be about 4,200 cubic feet per second flowing through the river when the gates are opened. It’s not clear what the impact will be farther downstream near Clearwater, Peck and into Sumner County.
People who live along the river, especially in areas prone to flooding, are urged to take precautions and be prepared to evacuate if necessary. The release will cause additional or prolonged road flooding along the river. Water was reported over 263rd Street West north of Viola on Tuesday afternoon.
Even with the release, the forecast is for Cheney Lake to reach a record height of 1,430.5 feet.
