THAYER: March 2010

St. Paul Prepares For Rising Mississippi River

ST. PAUL (WCCO) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Right now the Mississippi River has hit around 10 feet, which is 4 feet below flood stage.
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Captain Gus Gaspardo carries with him thoughts of long paddleboat rides on the Mississippi, but this year his course could be changing as quickly as the river's level rises.

"This is a unique situation this year because it's flooding a month earlier than our historical crests are," said Gaspardo, from the Padelford Packet Boat Co.

The Mississippi River will hit flood stage in downtown St. Paul by late Thursday.

Parts of Harriet Island, where Gaspardo docks his boat, are expected to flood.

At a news conference on Wednesday, City emergency management director Rick Larkin said they moved up their flood forecast by 24 hours.

Larkin said the water level is expected to rise more than three feet to 14 feet by late Thursday.

Officials are predicting that the river will rise another four feet to 18 feet by Monday afternoon, qualifying as a major flood.

Mayor Chris Coleman declared an emergency, which allows the city to request assistance from higher levels of government if needed.

Larkin said the city will close several low-lying streets on Saturday. He says they are preparing to close Harriet Island Regional Park across the Mississippi from downtown St. Paul if the river rises to 17 feet.

You have to go back to April of 2001 to understand why the preparation is so important. That year, the river was over its banks, consuming Holman Field, the downtown airport, and engulfing much of Harriet Island.

Gaspardo said back then, he couldn't cruise on the water for six weeks.

Steel hulls on the base of the boats should protect his possessions this time and an updated dock is now held together by four pilings.

"The facility was kind of overbuilt with flooding in mind, and the pressures of the river," said Gaspardo.

Holman Field will get to test the new floodwall built after the 2001 flood. Temporary parts of the wall are going up this week, closing two of the airport's three runways.

Larkin said crews have set up concrete barriers to prevent damage and stop debris from hitting buildings on Harriet Island.

Gaspardo doesn't expect to relive what happened nine years ago, believing the precautions he's taken will keep his boat business afloat.

Officials said they are watching forecast closely because it changes daily, and depending on precipitation, could change flood levels for better or for worse.