The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it will release even more water from the Gavins Point Dam this week. But in spite of these record high flows on the Missouri River, the Corps does not expect major flooding in the St. Louis area this summer.
The commander of the Corps' St. Louis District, Col. Tom O’Hara, expects reservoir levels on the Missouri River to remain high over the next couple of weeks.
At a press briefing last week, O’Hara said if we get heavy summer rainfall in the Missouri River basin, it would cause the river to overtop most agricultural levees between Washington, Missouri and the confluence.
But based on current National Weather Service forecasts, O’Hara says he does not anticipate heavy rains or major flooding.
O’Hara says the Mississippi River is cresting at 33 feet in St. Louis, but that water levels are dropping by about half a foot a day.
Flows on the Illinois River are also decreasing.
- Find more information on St. Louis area flooding here: http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/floodfight/
