Niagra Falls of Missouri

[dkopp 1]

Here is what the Lake Wappapello emergency spillway looked like as of 7:30 this morning. Highway T is washed out completely and the lake level is predicted to reach an all time high in a couple of days. We had about another 4 -5 inches of rain yesterday and last night. I think our total so far for the year is 24 to 26 inches.

[puddlejumper 67]

Yea, somethings going to have to give. I live a rocks throw from the wabash and I stuck a tape measure in the storm drain this morning and the best I can tell I have about a foot of freeboard before the storm drain out front becomes a gyser. Been here all my life with out giving it much thought but it is starting to get spooky.

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,599]

So, Dan, are you planning your wedding anniversary at Wappapello this year?

I heard that the Army Corp of Engineers has the green light to breach the levee to save Cairo, Illinois, which will flood more of the southeastern Missouri farmlands and a few farm houses. Up north near St. Louis and my area, the rivers are bulging - the Meramac at Arnold is way above the banks, same for the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Down near Pevely and Herkie, one of the tributary creeks is about to flow over 61/67 as it's just inches from doing so.

Maybe it's time to put runners on the Wheel Horses and a rudder to get around.

[dkopp 1]

T-Mo,

I may have to strap 55 gallon drums to the sides of the WH and get me one of those sickle bar mowers to cut the grass while it's underwater.

I just checked the lake level for Wappapello and it is at it's all time high.

I also checked the MODOT website for road closures and the roads in and out of the bootheel area are getting bad. Take a peek at the current road closures.

MODOT Road Closings

I'm not planning on having my anniversary up there this year but was going to attend a fish fry up there about the third week in May. That may not happen this year. The company I work for also does the company picnic just below the highway shown there. Luckily the office guy said that he has the pavilion reserved where the picture was taken.

Things are only getting worse as time goes on down here. Don't know much about the levy situation near Cairo. I'm hoping that a levy on the Illinois side goes first but that just may be wishful thinking.

[dkopp 1]

Spillway as of 2:00 PM this afternoon.

[Redbirdman 7]

Yikes.........If that washout gets closer to the spillway and undermines it you are REALLY gonna have a problem!

And you can see the way the water is tumbling it is getting real close.

ed

[dkopp 1]

Yes, and can you believe it's still raining here and the water level in the lake is STILL rising? It's going to be a big mess. What I can't understand is why they didn't concrete the entire spillway and elevate the road about 6 feet. This same thing happened back in 1945, it went over and washed the road out. You think they would have learned back then.