Flooding returns to Clayton County
By Shelia Tomkins
Clayton County residents once again dealt with rapidly rising rivers and streams this past week, following torrential rains in northern Iowa that hammered the area Sept. 21-22.
Hardest hit was north central Iowa, an area that drains into the Cedar River watershed, with near-record crests expected downriver this week. In Northeast Iowa, the Upper Iowa River and the Turkey River felt the effects of excessive rainfall, though not to the extent of recent August flooding.
Flash flood warnings were issued for Clayton County following last week's heavy rainfall as the National Weather Service and local emergency management officials monitored gauges on the Turkey River and other area rivers.
In Elkader, the Turkey River crested at 20.24 feet on Friday; flood stage there is 12 feet. Last week's crest was nearly two feet under the Aug. 26 crest of 22.5 feet.
At Garber, the Turkey River began its rise on Thursday, cresting at 25.19 feet on Friday and holding steady before rapidly falling by Sunday. Flood stage there is 17 feet. In August, the Turkey rose to 23.6 feet at Garber.
Osterdock and Millville were the next to feel the effects of the crest, as a swift-moving Turkey River, filled with trees and other debris, rose to cover bottom land and affected travel on portions of some secondary roads. There are no official gauges at Osterdock and Millville to provide data on the crests there.
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River responded to the excess water from rivers and streams that empty into it north of here. At Guttenberg, the river began a slow rise on Thursday, heading to an expected crest of 15.5 feet sometime between Wednesday and Thursday of this week, before slowly falling. Flood stage at Guttenberg is 15 ft. The river is expected to remain high well into October.
