Notes from to
day’s flood meeting. The river crested at 27.67 and is now at 27.55, it will stay high through the weekend. The new levee and extension across Hwy 92 are working as planned. Hwy 92 will likely be closed through the beginning of next week. Check with IDOT (www.511ia.org) for the latest information. Hwy 70 to Conesville is currently one lane and may get closed. The county has been declared a state disaster area for flooding which may be helpful to affected property owners, check with LC Emergency management for more information. There are no further flood meetings scheduled.
2014 High Water Update
NWS Water Level Projections
City and state officials and community members met this evening July 1, 2014, to discuss high waters in the area. Current projections show the Iowa River at Columbus Junction cresting at 27’3″, well below 2008′s 32 feet, but two feet above last year’s high water mark. The city is prepared in case the water should rise. Levee work was completed last year, complete with pump upgrades. Columbus Junction also has sand and barriers ready to block off Highway 92 should the water reach the level of the road, approximately 28 feet. There were will possibly be one lane traffic on Highway 92 as the levee is extended. Please be patient if that decision is made.
Whether the water reaches its projected depth depends on how much rain is received over the upcoming week, water flow rate decisions at the Coralville Dam, and other unpredictable factors. A Red Alert was issued by the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office to notify residents that plans are in place in case of flooding. If you have any questions about the flooding check this website, columbusjunctioniowa.org for updates, Like the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office Page or contact the Columbus Junction City Hall at (319) 728-7971 and ask for Mallory.
In addition, there will be a meeting open to ALL community members and business owners tomorrow morning at 8:30 at the Columbus Junction City Hall.
Garbage and Recycling Pick-Up will continue as normal.
Rivers Rising
With the rain yesterday here and north of us we are at the point where we check river levels and predictions frequently, meet daily and take some precautionary steps. The crest is currently projected to come on Wednesday at 27 feet. That is below the level that affects traffic on Highway 92. Once the river crests it is projected to remain high for a while. The status and projections for the Iowa at Columbus Junction can be found at http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=dvn&gage=cjti4. As more information becomes available we will pass it on. For now the advise is to stay informed and stay calm.