Rains cause Kickapoo River to flood, river now receding
The sandbag wall around Jo's Kountry Bar in Steuben held back the water fairly well. Pumping was being done continuously and the bar was open. (Photos by Ted Pennekamp)
The playground at Steuben was under water on Saturday.
The Kickapoo River goes over the bridge at Steuben on Saturday.
A house in Gays Mills was surrounded by water.
Much of Gays Mills was flooded.
This view from an overlook shows downtown Gays Mills.
The park in Soldiers Grove was flooded.
Roads near the park in Soldiers Grove were closed.
By Ted Pennekamp
The severe thunder storm that brought an EF1 tornado, high winds and heavy rain to Crawford County on Wednesday evening is also partially to blame for the flooding of the Kickapoo River.
The rain subsided on Thursday, but was back again on Friday, July 21 throughout most of the day and night. Friday’s rain raised raging and muddy area streams again as they poured into the Kickapoo and sent the river high over its banks.
In Soldiers Grove, the river crested at 18.19 feet on Friday, July 21, according to the National Weather Service. Flood stage at Soldiers Grove is 13 feet. The record for Soldiers Grove is 21.63 feet.
The river crested at 18.08 feet in Gays Mills on Saturday, July 22. Flood stage in Gays Mills is 13 feet. The record for Gays Mills is 20.44 feet in June of 2008.
In Steuben, the Kickapoo crested at 17 feet on Saturday, July 22. Flood stage in Steuben is 12 feet. The historic crest for Steuben is 19.16 feet in June of 2008.
The Kickapoo River is expected to recede quite rapidly. As of 8 a.m. on Monday, July 24, flooding continued but the river was down from what it was on Saturday. As of 8 a.m., Monday, it was at 13.6 at Soldiers Grove, 15.1 in Gays Mills and 13.8 in Steuben.
The Crawford County Highway Department, the Sheriff’s Department and Emergency Management continue to monitor the situation while also attending to the needs of storm damaged areas and communities throughout the county.
Highway Commissioner Dennis Pelock said that there were several roads that were closed this weekend due to the flooding. The roads included: Tavern Road in the town of Clayton, County C from Highway 131 to Norwegian Hollow Road, Highway 131 from Highway 61 to Highway 60, Sand Hill Road in the village of Bell Center, Haney Valley Road and Taylor Ridge Road in the town of Haney, Highway 171 from Highway 27 to Highway 61, County S from Highway 131 to Highway 27, and Highway 179 from Highway 27 to Steuben.
The last time the Kickapoo River had major flooding was in September of 2016.
