King County has opened its Flood Warning Center to monitor increasing flows on the Green River because of necessary water releases from a dam in the upper watershed.

Higher flows from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Howard Hanson Dam, on the upper Green River north of Enumclaw, could lead to elevated water levels in the river over the next few days.

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the Green River at Auburn was flowing at 8,390 cubic feet per second (cfs), which is above the threshold for a Phase II flood alert level. At these flows, minor flooding could be expected in agricultural areas in the Green River Valley above the City of Auburn.

A Phase II warning on any major King County river is the level of the county’s four-phase warning system at which the Flood Warning Center is activated to monitor lowland flooding. The center will remain open and continue to monitor the river flooding until conditions improve.

Center staff are monitoring stream gauges and weather reports, and will provide updated information on river conditions as necessary. Flood patrol crews will also monitor conditions from the field.

Center staff will continue to monitor stream gauges and weather reports and provide updated information on river conditions as necessary. Real-time river level information is available online at www.kingcounty.gov/flood

Updated information on flooding will also be posted on the King County Web site at www.kingcounty.gov, or via RPIN, the area’s regional Web site at http://www.rpin.org. A recorded flood-information hotline is also updated each hour for citizens wanting information in flood areas. The number is 206-296-8200 or 1-800-945-9263.

Citizens who need help interpreting flood information should call 206-296-4535 or 1-800-768-7932. Problems on county maintained roads can be reported by calling 206-296-8100 or 1-800-KC-ROADS.