Cottonwood River above flood stage

BY RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--The Cottonwood River rose to 13.8 feet Wednesday, 2.8 feet above flood stage, forcing the closing of the bridge on Cottonwood Street. Water flowed over an estimated 100 feet of roadway leading to the bridge from the west.

"We got the call from the police department at 1:30 a.m. Wednesday and closed the bridge," Street Commissioner Tom Patterson explained, "but it was closed because the flood water was damaging the roadway, making it unsafe. The bridge itself is not in danger."

"Actually, the road is designed to do what it's doing, act like a relief valve to take the pressure from the bridge," Patterson said. "We designed the roadway to be lower because it's a lot less expensive to repair the road than it is to repair the bridge."

Patterson said it is an inconvenience for people living on the west side because they will now have to take a longer, alternative route. However, right now the expectation is that no buildings will be threatened by the flooding.

The river is expected to crest today at 14.3 feet, and then drop to 14 feet Friday, according to meteorologist Tony Zaleski, National Weather Service, Chanhassen. NWS expects the river to continue dropping to a half foot above flood stage by Monday.

"However, that's based upon current expected light rainfall forecasts. If those change, then the projections will be revised," Zaleski said.

"We've been monitoring the weather service projections all week," Patterson explained, "so we weren't surprised when the water went over the road. We'll be ready to repair that road on Monday" if the water level continues to track with NWS projections."

The good news is, Patterson added, that the flooding is occurring later so that ice buildup is not a problem.