City extends berm near lift station

BY RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--With the Minnesota River running 1 1/2 feet higher than predicted late last week, city officials took action Monday to protect the city's sanitary sewer system if the river crests higher than the anticipated 805 feet.

The city is temporarily extending the existing berm that protects the 20th South Street lift station, Street Commissioner Tom Patterson reported. "This action is being taken as a precaution to protect the city sanitary sewer system if the expected crest exceeds the current ... prediction."

During a meeting Monday morning, the newly formed Emergency Response Committee decided the action needed to be taken as a precaution. Patterson said, "The ERC will continue to monitor the situation on a daily and as-needed basis."

Patterson urged residents needing additional information to contact the public works department at 359-8296.

Based on current weather conditions, the National Weather Service expects the river to crest at between 804 and 805 feet next Monday. While reflecting rainfall of 1 inch or more over the weekend, NWS had predicted a water level of 800.1 feet Monday, 800.5 feet today and 800.9 feet tomorrow. However, Monday's level was measured at 802.1 feet.

Meanwhile, the Cottonwood River still is running fairly close to its crest level of 14.3 feet, which was reached last Thursday. By Friday, it had dropped 3-4 inches, but it didn't drop as much as predicted over the weekend. It appeared to be running Monday at about the same level as Friday.

NWS had forecast a 13.1-foot level for the Cottonwood on Monday, dropping to 12.8 feet today.