Information
from the Flooding March 18th and 19th, 2010
Much of the following information is from Jim
Hovda and we'll be posting it here in an effort to keep you all informed on
water levels at the lake.
This page will display
the latest emergency information from Benton County, Minnesota.
Also, WJON radio
can be checked as well as the St. Cloud Times for further info.
3-20-2010
The following is an excerpt from an article in the St. Cloud Times today:
"Flood threat to region subsides" by TaLeiza Calloway
"Properties along the Mississippi River
from Pine Point through Sartell and north St. Cloud were out of immediate
flooding danger Friday after an ice jam broke free Thursday night.
The ice jam was blocking water along the
Mississippi River and holding it in Little Rock Lake. Stearns County Emergency
Management Director Marv Klug said the ice jam broke free overnight and water
is flowing freely.
The water level on Little Rock Lake receded
about 8 inches overnight and continues to drop, according to the Benton County
Sheriff’s Office.
With no large amount of precipitation expected
soon, and if additional ice jams can be avoided, flooding threats have
subsided.
Sandbagging operations at Benton Beach and the
hot line at Watab Township Hall have shut down. Sands and bags are still
available at Benton Beach.
All roads around Little Rock Lake are open.
The jam sparked a flood warning for the
Mississippi River that expired at mid-morning Friday."
___________________
From James McDermott, Benton County Emergency Management: 2:00 PM Friday, March
19, 2010
The sand bagging operations at Benton Beach were stopped at noon
today, however, there are many
filled bags available to local LRL residents. There is also more sand and bags
at the site. Everything will remain in place until the threat of flooding has
passed. The Mississippi is expected to crest today and most of the ice is out
of the river. I noticed it looks like some of the ice on the lake is also
starting to go. The township hotline was shut down about 2 pm today. If there
is any problem over the weekend it can be reported to the Sheriff's office who
will get hold of me and if needed we can put things back into operation.
Jim McDermott
__________________
Message #7 19 March 2010 0740 hrs. (Probably the final message)
From a high water level at 1900 hrs 18 March of 40.2"
taken at the bridge deck of Benton Co. #2 at Little Rock Creek was within
7" of going over Benton Co #2. The water level has dropped 7.9"
when I measured 48.1" at 0700 hrs. this morning.
The major ice jam that was located at the mouth of the Harris
Channel (the exit of Little Rock Lake into the Mississippi River) cleared out
yesterday afternoon. With major flood gates open at Sartell I think it is
safe to say that flooding issues around Little Rock Lake are over. Had the
ice jam not cleared out, I probably would have been taking a canoe to get home
on the N. End of Little Rock Lake.
Only a few homes on the W. side of LRL were impacted and West Lake
Rd was closed in some portions. They will open today.
Unless there is major rainfall I think we can get back to
normal.
Thank you to the many folks who put together a team effort to get
thru this mini crisis.
Many of the people were non paid volunteers.
Jim Hovda
Rice Weather Observer/Reporter
__________________
The following was sent to Jim Hovda from Benton County Emergency
Manager Jim McDermott Thursday, March 18, 2010 11:47 PM:
Jim, we closed up sandbagging operations at
Benton Beach at 9pm (2100) tonight and will start again at 8am (0800) if any
one wants more sand. The big gates on the Sartell Dam were open and water was
flowing heavily through them. Blanchard Dam at Little Falls was opening more of
their gates to relieve their flooding, that might have some affect on how the
water flows out of LRL. The Sheriff's office has a toll free and 24 hr number
for the local Red Cross if anyone needs emergency shelter, they can only put up
a limited number at this time, they suggest people follow their own personal
emergency plans. The Sheriff's Office will be taking calls during the night and
at 0800 the number at Watab will be active again.
I will be out at the lake between 7 (0700) and
7:30 (0730) to drive around it. At 8am (0800) I am meeting the CERT volunteers
at the Watab Township Hall to take them up to Benton Beach to resume
sandbagging ops. The ARC (American Red Cross) will also be coming out at 0830
with coffee. We have a trailer onsite for volunteers to use and will most
likely have a porta-potty brought out too.
I have attached a jpg file showing
the current flood forecast, as you can see we will be just below flood stage
for most of the day tomorrow, after 1900hrs it should start to receed. The ice
is still the unknown factor we could still get some ice jams, but as the hours
go by the chance of them will get less and less.
As always I will look forward to your
measurements.
Thanks for all you do.
Jim McD
(Residents with questions can call the Emergency
Operations Center at 240-2270.)
___________________________
Message #6, 2122 hrs, (9:22 P.M.) 18 March 2010
GOOD NEWS:
Water level is going down..............
Received a call from Ken Graber who lives on the Harris
Channel. He observed ice flowing into LRL up until 1815 hrs, then at 1830
hrs (6:30 P.M.) it abruptly started flowing out of LRL.
1900 hrs: 40.2", up .7" from the recorded
measurement taken at 1600 hrs of 40.9". The rate of rising water,
much less.
2130 hrs. No measurement, but the water level in my yard
appears to be about an inch, maybe a little more down. I think we all
can breathe a little easier.
I do not believe that Benton Co. #2 will close. Water came
within 7" of the asphalt. West lake Rd will probably open tomorrow.
See ya' tomorrow.
Jim Hovda
Rice Weather Observer
Message #5 18 Mar 2010 1630 hrs.
Lake level stands at 40.9" - up 1.6" from the 1400 hrs
measurement. If the lake goes up eight more inches water will be touching
the asphalt on Benton Co. 2 on the west side of the LR Creek bridge. The
water is still coming into LRL, but I believe the rate of flow has
slowed. If the lake level increases at its current rate, B.C. #2 will be
under water by 0100 hrs, 19 Mar. Parts of West Lake Road are closed as
water is running over the top of the road.
Sandbags and sand are available at Benton Beach Park and St. Regis
Park.
The good news! The major ice jam that was in front of
Gordon Bridge had moved about a mile down stream. Both the big gates at
the paper mill dam are open. I anticipate that the worst is over.
Morning will be an interesting measurement.
For more information go to the Benton County website or the Little Rock Lake website - www.littlerocklake.org
for more help.
Jim Hovda
Little Rock Lake Weather Observer
Message #4. 18 March 2010 1430 hrs
Water levels:
1100 hrs: 46.1" - up 3.8" from the 0900 hrs
reading.
1300 hrs: 43.7" - up 2.4" from the 1100 hrs
reading.
1400 hrs: 42.5" - up 1.2" from the 1300 hrs
reading.
We are still a foot or so from water over BC #2. Water is
in a lot of yards and West Lake Rd is closed in some locations.
Jim Hovda
Message #3.
Yesterday (17 Mar) 1300 hrs there was a large ice jam above
Gilligan's and at Frederichs garage area.
Today 18 Mar 10, 0800 I responded to a message from Maureen Graber
that there was a large ice jam at the Gordon Bridge and water was flowing into
LRL. It was.
The ice jam at the bridge is large. There is no open water
south of the bridge. Ice chunks that have been pushed up on shore
measure 13" thick. Ice from the river has been forced a couple
hundred feet into the Harris Channel from the water pressure forcing water into
LRL. Water coming under the Hwy 10 bridge is coming into the lake at a
really rapid rate.
Today at 0800 the bridge measurement was 50.5" and the
water was about 12" from the lowest point on Benton Co. 2. One hour
later (0900 hrs) the measurement was 49.9". The water is raising at
a rate of 1/2 " an hour.
It is my belief that West Lake Road (Watab Twp) and Benton County
2 will have water over the roadway today, if not early tomorrow morning.
I think this issue has the potential to be more serious than the 1997 high
water year.
Jim Hovda
________________________________
Little Rock Lake members - the following is
posted on the Benton County website:
Little Rock Lake Water Level Rising
03/18/2010 - On 03-18-10 the Benton County Sheriff's Office began
receiving calls from the public regarding rising water levels on Little Rock
Lake. The apparent cause of this rising water is a large ice jam on the
Mississippi River near the area of Gordon's Bridge. This ice jam is backing
water up into Little Rock Lake from the Mississippi River. Benton County is
making sand and sand bags available to those who wish to place them around
their property. Pre-filled sand bags are available to affected Benton
County residents at Roseanna Beach Park, 9876 West Lake Court, Rice, MN. Loose
sand and empty bags are available to affected Benton County residents at Benton
Beach Park, 130 125th St NW, Rice, MN. It is anticipated that water levels
around Little Rock Lake will continue to rise in the near future. Further updates
will be issued as more information becomes available.
I have also contacted Army Corps, the MN Duty Office, and the MN
Emergency Operations Center. I will forward any new info onto you as I receive
it.
Annie
Annie Felix ~ Water Plan Technician
Benton SWCD
14 2nd Avenue West
Foley, MN 56329
Phone: (320) 968-5300 Ext. 3
Fax: (320) 968-5304
www.soilandwater.org
________________________________
Creek and lake level information - Message #2 - March 15, 2010
From 10 March to 0800 hrs 15 March Little Rock Lake has risen
12" and stands at 69.5" from a starting measurement of
81.5" measuring from the bridge deck on Benton Co. #2. The rate of
increase has slowed. Little Rock Creek is still flowing fast.
The Little Rock Creek water shed is vast, going north way into Morrison
County.
At this time I anticipate no lake flooding problems.
As a note, the lake level reflects the Mississippi water level.
How the ice clears from the Mississippi will be important.
Jim Hovda
Rice Weather Observer.
Creek and lake level information - Message #1
- March 12, 2010
The base or starting level of Little Rock Lake was 81.5" at
0800 hrs, 10 Mar 10. (This measurement was/is taken at the Bridge on
Benton Co. #2 going over Little Rock Creek. The bridge on Zuleger Creek
for that measurement too.) The measurement is from the bridge deck to the
water. So, the smaller the measurement, the higher the water
level. Water levels in the 60" range are of worthy of note.
11 Mar 10, 1500 hrs. LR Creek 79.6".
Zuleger Creek 6" from the top of its banks.
12 Mar 10, 0800 hrs, LR Creek 77.1".
Zuleger Creek at flood stage. Water over the top of its banks and just
starting to flow into Benton Beach Park.
Precipitation: 10 - 12 Mar 10 - .91" of rain.
Temps above freezing since 1200 hrs 08 March.