Carbon County Flood Summit 2023

With winter snows piled high in the mountains, and rain and warmer temperatures in the forecast, flooding is a concern for local residents living near the Saratoga and Encampment Rivers. This concern was addressed at the Carbon County Flood Summit hosted by Lenny Layman, Carbon County Emergency Manager at the Carbon County Flood Summit of 2023 Friday, March 31.  

Tony Anderson, Senior Service Hydrologist from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Cheyenne said that the drought conditions have improved a good deal over the last three months due to the amount of current snowpack. Anderson reiterated that the county has been in drought since late 2020. 

Anderson said the snow pack is 142% above the norm and is expected to continue to climb. He said that 2011 saw a record high water level According to the NWS website, the water reached 10.49 feet, cresting on June 9, 2011. Anderson said they are estimating a 74% chance of minor flooding in the valley, with a 31% chance of moderate flooding in Saratoga. 

Anderson said that the current weather conditions/outlook is wet and cool but nothing is extreme in either case at the county level. Anderson also reminded everyone that the NWS can’t predict what may happen in the next month. The drought conditions have majorly improved over the last 3 months and previous drought conditions may reduce some flood potential.  The county has been in drought since late 2020.  Significant improvement has occurred over the winter. 

Kim Johnson, a representative from the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security was asked about the accuracy of the 100 year flood plan map. Saratoga Mayor Chuck Davis addressed this issue after concerns were voiced at the Saratoga Town Council meeting on February 16. Johnson told the mayor that it’s very close to being exact.

Local Preparedness and Operations

The mayors of Saratoga, Encampment, and Riverside told Layman about their available resources for sandbags.  Saratoga has a sand pit, Encampment has a stock pile of sand and Riverside has sand from the  2011 event.    

Riverside Mayor, Leroy Stephenson, said, “The Encampment River has been the subject of river restoration from Odd Fellows Campground to Baggott Rocks in recent years. As of now there are no plans to sandbag for this spring.” 

One potential issue is dead trees going down the river and hitting the 230 bridge sideways.

County Preparedness and Operations

Lenny Layman said that each town needs a Carbon County declaration to bring in outside resources to help local towns.  The county will be staffing the emergency operation center and they will coordinate with the state and national guard.  When drainage reaches action level, virtual partial activation will bring staff to help virtually and physically.  Action level is the stage which, when reached by a rising stream, authorities will take some type of mitigation in preparation for possible flooding. 

The emergency contact phone number at the county level is 307-328-7770.

Layman is asking that all town draft declarations for flooding now to make the process faster if and when it is necessary to bring in help with flooding.This will bring situational awareness to emergency management at county level to start the process of bringing resources to the local municipalities who are in need of help with flooding from the North Platte River.

Layman said that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) allows the county sandbagging machine to be taken where it is needed. The machine attaches to a skid steer. Carbon County also has trained operators if needed. Once enough sandbags have been filled, the sandbag machine can be taken to the next town in need, without having to take the skid steer as well. 

State Preparedness and Operations 

Layman said that, “State Preparedness/Operations are working with WYDOT and National Guard with flood planning processes.  Early preparation at the local level is a critical component to helping the County Emergency Management Department and for local municipalities to diligently watch the temperature, wind, and precipitation levels in their town areas.”

No other Flood summit planning meeting is set at this time. 

The following web links are available to the public to keep an eye on the possibility of flooding in the Upper North Platte River. 

water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=cvs 

Hydrologic Ensemble Forecast System (HEFS)

water.weather.gov/ahps2/probability_information.php?wfo=cvs&gage=sraw4&graph_id=1