City officials say the increased flow of water on the Missouri River should reach the St Joseph are around June 14th.
The Army Corps of Engineers predicts the river to rise between 27 and 32 feet in St Joseph. Those levels are greater than last year’s flooding and could exceed river levels from 1952 and 1881, depending on rainfall in the river basin.
The Corps of Engineers delivered an automated sandbagging and 100,000 sandbags to St Joseph this week. The city already has 60,000 sandbags on hand. They will be used for public safety only, city officials said.
Six pumps were ordered this week and four are now in place to pump 30 million gallons of water per day at the wastewater treatment plant. Once the river level reaches 26 to 27 feet, the plant cannot drain to the river.
The nature center boat dock has been removed and the Riverwalk trails are closed.
Key elevations that will affect St. Joseph are:
- 21 feet Riverwalk Trail closed
- 24 feet residential area on the northwest side flood
Riverfront Park experiences water
- 25 feet MacArthur Drive is closed to local traffic only
- 26 feet Pumping of effluent to the river
- 29.5 feet City Yards will be evacuated