Minnesota River rising

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Nail-biting about the swollen Cottonwood River appears to have abated, but the rising Minnesota River is a concern, particularly if fears of possibly heavy rainfall this weekend in the river's upper reaches are realized.

The National Weather Service predicted a level of 798.9 feet Friday for the Minnesota, nearly 3 feet above flood stage. The river is expected to rise another 2 feet by Tuesday and crest at 805 feet Easter Sunday. NWS is basing its prediction on at least one inch rainfall this weekend.

The Cottonwood River started dropping from its crest of 14.3 feet Thursday. By mid-afternoon Friday, the river had dropped 3-4 inches as indicated by water marks on tree trunks and bridge pilings in Minnecon park, just off Front Street.

However, the NWS revised forecast Friday had it dropping more slowly than predicted earlier. The Cottonwood is expected to drop to 12.9 feet today but rebound to 13.1 feet by Monday; then it is expected to start dropping again to 12.8 feet Tuesday.

"Obviously, what's happening with the Minnesota is our main concern, and we need to watch it closely," said Tom Patterson, New Ulm's street commissioner. What happens overnight in the upper basin is critical."

Patterson said the city's newly formed Emergency Response committee met Friday to review the situation and will meet again Monday at 1:15 p.m. for another review.

"In the meantime, none of us (on the committee) is going anywhere this weekend."

Joining Patterson on the ERC, which will be an ongoing committee, are Fire Department representative Curt Curry, City Engineer Steve Koehler, Assistant City Clerk/Treasurer Lisa Wieland, Electric Distribution Supervisor Greg Smith, Water/Steam Supervisor Dennis Cummings, and Public Utilities Director Bob Stevenson.

While the Minnesota has yet to cause problems in the New Ulm area, it has caused mischief downstream. It forced the closure of both Highways 19, and 93 from U.S. Highway 169 to Henderson.

The Cottonwood, which dumps into the Minnesota, was reported dropping at least a foot upstream at Lamberton. It had covered a small township road about week ago, officials said. Because it had gone down a foot, they don't expect problems unless there is a lot of rain.

Minor flooding is reported downstream at Sanborn. The city park was inundated for the first time since 1997 and the ninth green at the Farmers Golf & Health Club is under water. Water appeared to be receding Friday.