The entire Wyoming Valley Levee System will not need to be put into full action because of the consistent rain this week, as stated by Luzerne County officials on Wednesday.
The most recent hydrograph indicates that the Susquehanna River will reach just below 22 feet on Friday morning, according to Christopher Belleman, the executive director of the county Flood Protection Authority that supervises the levee.
To give some context, the river forecast must be above 30 feet for preparations to begin for the Market Street Bridge flood gates, he noted.
In response to the increasing river level, workers from the authority are placing flood gates at the pedestrian opening in the flood wall along Riverside Drive in South Wilkes-Barre.
Belleman stated that all 13 levee pump stations will be activated. These stations have deep water wells to collect drainage from the land side of the levee when it can no longer naturally drain into the Susquehanna. The pumps then raise the collected water over the levee wall and release it onto concrete aprons into the Susquehanna.
Additionally, sluice gates will be shut to prevent rising river water from backing up onto properties on the levee-protected side, he said.
The gates have been up since December at both levee portal openings along the River Common in Wilkes-Barre.
The closure of the pedestrian gate and portals is intended as a safety measure to discourage the public from approaching the river edge, Belleman emphasized.
Flood authority Chairman Dominic Yannuzzi commented that this approach is sensible for preventing the public from accidentally encountering high water.
“We keep the portals closed for safety so people don’t wander down to the river,” Yannuzzi explained.
Belleman anticipates that the portals will be reopened by mid- to late April, and then closed again if necessary due to flood threats.
He does not expect further actions due to this week’s rain.
“Hopefully that’s it for the flood preparation, but we will of course continue to monitor it,” he said.
A flood watch is in place until Thursday evening for the county, as per the National Weather Service. Excessive runoff may lead to flooding of creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone areas.
The county’s Emergency Management Agency has informed all local EMA coordinators about the Susquehanna crest and the possibility of creek and stream flooding, according to Charles Krommes, the agency’s emergency management planner.
“We asked them to stay vigilant, monitor, and inform us if they notice anything unusual,” Krommes stated.
