GUYANA FLOOD UPDATE: CONSERVANCY LEVEL SLOWLY

UNCLAS GEORGETOWN 000086

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR CASC EAID PGOV ASEC GY
SUBJECT: GUYANA FLOOD UPDATE: CONSERVANCY LEVEL SLOWLY
DROPPING

REF: (A) GEORGETOWN 70 (B) GEORGETOWN 59 (C)

GEORGETOWN 58 (D) GEORGETOWN 53 (E)
GEORGETOWN 45 (F) GEORGETOWN 41


1. Water levels in the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC)
dropped several inches from Friday January 20th's high of 58
feet 9 inches to 58.57 Tuesday, January 24 at the Flagstaff
measuring site. Measurements at all locations within the
Conservancy dropped or remained steady during this same
period. The drop is attributed to a combination of a break in
the rainy weather in the Conservancy catchment area over the
weekend and the opening of the small sluice gate at Lama on
the 20th. 59 feet is considered the fail safe point.


2. While water levels on the eastern side of the Conservancy
remain dangerously high, for the moment, the Government of
Guyana has avoided the widespread flooding of heavily
populated areas in the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abrary areas
that would occur if the large Lama sluice is opened. The
lack of reliable weather forecasts or rainfall data for the
the EDWC catchment area make it difficult to predict how fast
or if the levels will recede or increase.


3. Peace Corps lowered its Emergency Action Plan "stand
fast" to "alert" for volunteers as a result of the drop in
the conservancy water level and break in the weather.
BULLEN