Federal water managers have declared a first-stage flood emergency at Hyrum dam, and say they need to release water into the nearby Little Bear River. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said Friday that sending water from the dam down the river and towards the town of Wellsville is not expected to cause property damage or endanger any people. Local officials with the bureau say that the designation of "level one" is the lowest on a three-tiered scale.
The water release comes amid warm weather, rapid snowmelt, and rain in the area. The move is not expected to cause any flooding, but the region is already saturated.
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