Time Line For Minot ND Floods

Today, the Minot Daily News ran an article about the time line for the 2011 Minot ND. Flood. It's interesing reading to see the makings of a flood and be a Monday morning quarterback if things didn't go right. It may also help in the future when there are more floods next year.
From the Minot Daily News: Editor's note: Much has been written and said, often mere speculation, on what events led up to this year's devastating flood up and down the Souris River Valley. Staff Writer Kim Fundingsland, one of the key reporters covering the flood for The Minot Daily News, has prepared a timeline that might confirm or debunk some common beliefs concerning the flood. It's interesting reading, but certainly, the final chapter on the flood of 2011 has yet to be written.
December 2010
Releases begin from Alameda Reservoir.
"Above normal precipitation during this past summer and fall has left much of the eastern portion of Saskatchewan saturated. Rivers and creeks are flowing at rates well above normal for this time of year and some streams, which are normally dry in the fall, are flowing. It is anticipated that these flows will continue throughout the winter." Saskatchewan Watershed Authority
January 2011
Sat., 8th Lake Darling releasing 200 cubic feet per second with plans to increase to 450 cfs.
Mon., 10th Saskatchewan Watershed Authority begins first-ever winter releases from Rafferty Reservoir "necessary for spring flood protection and to meet the water level requirements specified in the International Agreement on Water Supply and Flood Control in the Souris River Basin with the United States."
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance meeting held in Minot Municipal Auditorium because of "the frequency and severity of flood events in North Dakota."
Fri., 14th Towner ranchers say they have never seen conditions as wet as they are at this point in the winter. Some sump pumps that hadn't run since 1959 were pumping constantly. Reports say the water table in some areas has risen from 8 feet to 3 1/2 feet or less.
http://www.minotdailynews.com/page/content.detail/id/557475/Timeline-of-Minot-s-2011-flood.html?nav=5010