VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Valley City Commission met in special session Tuesday morning with Commissioner Powell not present.

During the special session, commissioners approved a resolution declaring a flood emergency and resolution requesting emergency flood assistance.

City Administrator David Schelkoph says the city issued the resolution to prepare for rising water in Valley City.

Schelkoph says residents can see pumps all about town as river levels could get upwards of 16 feet. He says you could compare that to the floods of 2009 and 2011 when the water levels reached around 20 1/2 feet.

The declaration will be the first step to receiving federal aid if any damage occurs as a result of the high water levels.

Lake Ashtabula Park Ranger Scott Tichy says things changed Monday night and they had to raise the river flow release to 3100 cfs. He says water inflows have never been this high in October over the 69 year history of Baldhill Dam.

A peak in flow of between 5500 cfs and 9000 cfs could happen from runoff and water coming in from river tributaries.