Spring Flood 2010
Flooding closes roads around Cherokee By Paul Struck Editor A fast-moving rise in the Little Sioux River between 2 p.m. and midnight on March 17 flooded and closed several area roads and streets in and around Cherokee. By Wednesday evening, U.S. Highway 59 south, near the Little Sioux River bridge in Cherokee, was closed to flooding, as was East Main Street and several other side streets in the river's vicinity. They remained closed throughout Thursday and this morning. Some rural roads were also flooded. The flooding caused major traffic congestion on U.S. 59 north in Cherokee and the Iowa Highway 3 By-Pass, as traffic was routed east around Cherokee on the By-Pass, south on the pavement east of the U.S. Highway 59 and Iowa Highway 3 By-Pass junction on the East Hill, and then back west on Linden Street to access south Cherokee businesses and homes, and U.S. Highway 59 south. According to David Boothby of the Cherokee Flood Committee, the Little Sioux River was expected to crest sometimes late Thursday night and then slowly begin to recede. Flood stage is 17 feet, and the crest was expected to hit 24 feet Thursday night (March 18). Much over 24 feet and the water inundates the Iowa Highway 3 By-Pass just east of the river bridge there, which would force drivers from the east to go north towards Larrabee to access U.S. Highway 59 into Cherokee and/or north. When the Little Sioux River hits the 17-foot flood stage, minor lowland flooding begins, and Cherokee County Rescue mobilizes and sets up the Flood Control Center. At 18 feet, Wescott Park and surrounding park areas begin to flood as the river overflows its south banks in Cherokee. At 19 feet, the north banks overflow and water surges north of the river bridge and extends towards downtown, depending upon the water levels. At 21 feet, East Main Street floods west of the river bridge and extends towards downtown depending upon water levels reached. At 24 feet, the Iowa 3 By-Pass floods and the water reaches the Beech Street intersection with U.S. Highway 59 (South Second Street) in Cherokee. At 27 feet, dozens of homes and about 15 Cherokee businesses are flooded to various degrees. Historical flood crests in Cherokee include the record 27.20 feet in April, 1965, and 27.08 in July, 1993. The National Weather Service categorizes major flood stage at 24 feet or higher, moderate flood stage at 21 feet, flood stage at 17 feet, and action stage at 15 feet. Also according to the NWS, the predicted 24-foot flood stage crest Thursday night could last into Saturday early morning before falling to 20 feet by Tuesday, pending no impacting rains or snowfall. A rain/snow mix for Northwest Iowa was forecast at 70-percent for today, with snow accumulations of two inches projected. Boothby said he measured the flood stage at the South Second Street bridge every few hours for several days. "I've probably driven over a hundred miles since last night," laughed Boothby on March 18, referencing the lengthy drive around town to access the bridge flood gauge just a few blocks south of Cherokee's downtown. Flooding woes also continued today to plague communities, homes and businesses along the Big Sioux and Floyd Rivers in Northwest Iowa, along with the Little Sioux River at Spencer and Linn Grove, and the Iowa Great Lakes area.
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Water over road - Motorists got a little surprise on U.S. Hwy. 59 near Beech Street on March 17th, as water began to spill across the highway from the flooding Little Sioux River. The water on the highway got deeper as Wednesday night wore on, causing the highway to be closed. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)
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Main Street closed - The yo-yo effect of the flooding of the Little Sioux River once again forced the closing of East Main Street on Wednesday evening. March 17. The road remained closed as the river once again swelled even higher on Thursday, causing traffic to be detoured around Cherokee. (Photo by Mike Leckband)
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There was no ball being played at Wescott Field, near Spring Lake, on March 17th. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)
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You can say that again! The River's Edge disc golf course at Koser Spring Lake Park became part of the river n March 17-18, when the Little Sioux River breached it banks and flood waters engulfed the popular playing field and adjacent Wescott Park. Cherokee City Parks Superintendent Duane Mummert advises that people beware of entering or playing in the flood waters. Frigid temperatures, contaminants, unseen debris, and the river's current all pose great danger to humans during flooding. (Photo by Mike Leckband)
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Hwy. 59 closed due to flood - Road Closed signs popped up all over Cherokee on Thursday. Flooding of the Little Sioux River increased on Wednesday evening and into Thursday forcing officials to close several roads in Cherokee that became impassable. (Photo by Mike Leckband)
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Welcome to Spring Lake Park - The welcome sign at Koser Spring Lake Park is a dramatic example showing the extent to which recent high water came to the Cherokee area, due to the flooding of the Little Sioux River. (Photo by Mike Leckband)
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Answering the call - Many volunteers showed up on March 17th to help fill and stack sandbags at the north entrance of Koser Spring Lake Park, trying to keep the flooding Little Sioux River water from entering the lake. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)
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Wall of sandbags - After being filled, the sandbags were stacked at the north entrance of Koser Spring Lake Park by volunteers Wednesday night who were trying to keep the flooding Little Sioux River water from entering the lake. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)
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Tie those bags - Volunteers quickly filled and tied sandbags Wednesday night so they could be stacked at the north entrance of Koser Spring Lake Park to keep the flooding Little Sioux River from entering the lake. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)
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Cruising on through - This motorcyclist takes his turn going through the flood water that began to spill across U.S. Hwy. 59 near Beech Street from the over flowing Little Sioux River. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)
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(Not so) green space After the flood of 1993, homes and businesses were relocated out of the flood zone and the Cherokee Green Space was created to prevent future flood damage. At one time, Randall's Super Valu Grocery Store, and later the Earl May Garden Store, sat on this spot. (Photo by Mike Leckband)
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Where's the road? - The Little Sioux River and surrounding water covers this section of East Main - better known as the East Hill- as the river spilled out of it's banks on March 17th. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)
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Closing county roads - Cherokee County Engineer Dave Shanahan is pictured measuring the encroaching river water on County Road L-56 in Pilot Township, south of Cherokee. This road was later closed, along with many others in Cherokee County. (Photo by Mike Leckband)
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Quimby water - The Little Sioux River exceeds its banks near Quimby in this aerial photo taken in mid-March 2010 as the spring thaw caused the flooding. (Photo by Rick Henderson)
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Road hazard - The Little Sioux River's recent flooding, caused by heavy run-off from the spring thaw, swamped portions of county road C-44, shown in this aerial view looking north toward Cherokee. (Photo by Rick Henderson)
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Treatment Plant - The Cherokee Treatment Plant and adjacent lagoons were threatened by the 2010 spring flooding of the Little Sioux River. (Photo by Rick Henderson)
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Highway 59 closed - U.S. Highway 59 just north of the south Little Sioux River Bridge in Cherokee was flooded for several days due to the spring thaw forcing the river out of its banks. (Photo by Rick Henderson)
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High water - This aerial photo taken by Rick Henderson of Cleghorn shows the flooded Little Sioux River northeast of Larrabee, near Martin's Access, sprawling onto ag land following the mid-March spring thaw flooding. (Photo by Rick Henderson)