VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is adjusting the amount of water being released from Baldhill Dam, northwest of Valley City.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineer spokesman Scott Tichy said the changes are being made due to the recent aerial snow survey conducted by the National Weather Services in the Sheyenne River basin. The survey indicated around 2 inches of water within the snow pack.

Water management officials plan to begin releasing 400 cubic feet per second, on Monday, January 13th in order to increase the amount of flood storage capacity within Lake Ashtabula. The new target lake elevation for the spring snow melt is now around 1,259.0 feet. This is 3.5 feet lower than the previous goal of 1,262.5 feet.

Ice conditions may become less safe as a result of the increased outflows from the dam. People recreating on or near Lake Ashtabula or downstream of Baldhill Dam on the Sheyenne River should use extreme caution.