Officials to release more water from reservoir into already flooded river, angering residents whose homes are threatened

 Officials are releasing more water from the Medard Reservoir into a nearby river in Valrico, which is already flooded from Milton, to prevent the dam from breaking. The decision is outraging residents in the area, who were urged to leave as the rising floodwaters threatened their homes.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District, a flood protection agency, said they have to release more water from the reservoir into the Alafia River to protect the “structural integrity of the dam,” which would further endanger residents if it breaks, according to a news release.

“While the District recognizes that homes along the Alafia River may already be experiencing flooding issues, not pumping the additional water from the reservoir and risking a failure, would further endanger residents and property downstream,” the release said.

The additional water that will be put into the river is “less than 1% of the overall flow in the Alafia River,” the water authority said.

The Alafia River is located at the community of Lithia, about 13 miles southeast of Valrico, which is about 20 miles east of Tampa. The Medard Reservoir received nearly 7 inches of rainfall and rose 6.5 feet as a result of Milton, the release said.

The river was about 6 feet deep late Friday morning and is expected to crest at about 25.5 feet on Friday night, according to CNN meteorologists. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister told residents who live near creeks and rivers to leave Friday morning, warning river flooding was expected to only worsen as the day progressed.

John Taylor, who has lived in Valrico for four years, told CNN’s Isabel Rosales he is frustrated because he believes officials should have released water from the reservoir before Milton’s rain caused the river to flood.

“The water rolls too fast on us. It rolls about 10 feet in under 24 hours after the storm and this seems to consistently happen to us in these areas right here where they’re releasing these reservoirs,” Taylor said. “It’s dangerous for us that are waiting for a typical storm that we can generally survive and then the water rises over 10 feet in a day.”

CNN has reached out to the Water Management District for comment.