JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says they’ll hold off another week before stepping down releases from the Jamestown & Pipestem Reservoirs.

The Corps delayed the announced decrease to releases after additional data and updated air temperature forecasts show an extended date for river ice downstream to start forming.

Mayor Dwaine Heinrich has remained in contact with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding their decision.

To mitigate the risk of freeze-up ice jams or other ice-related flooding, the target combined release rate before ice-in is 800 cfs. This means that flows will continue at that rate once ice has formed.

Mayor Heinrich says those winter releases of 800 cfs, or around 6,000 gallons of water per second, will still cause some issues downstream over the winter.

Councilmember Steve Brubakken inquired about the remaining sandbags currently located at the Jamestown Civic Center. City Engineer Travis Dillman says crews have begun moving those to city storage units.

Councilmember Dave Steele repeated what Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser has stated; stay off the ice.

Councilmember Pam Phillips stated that residents should consider other alternatives this winter.

The Corps of Engineers states they are coordinating with relevant agencies in North and South Dakota.