According to Susan Stocker, the Boating Law Administrator with the Iowa DNR, the past four years have been characterized by a significant lack of water. However, it appears that all the water has now arrived, seemingly all at once.
The abundance of water is sure to make a significant impact for those planning to indulge in swimming or boating activities during this Fourth of July celebration.
Year-to-date rainfall totals in several regions are exceeding the average levels.
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- Cedar Rapids: 17.99 inches of rainfall
- Dubuque: 25.70 inches of rainfall
- Iowa City: 21.85 inches of rainfall
- Waterloo: 27.58 inches of rainfall
At this time of year, Dubuque has exceeded its normal total by 6.71 inches, while Waterloo’s total stands at 8.65 inches above its average.
According to Stocker, the DNR has not issued a specific warning to avoid going on the water, but the Coast Guard has implemented a ban on recreational boating from Guttenberg to Bellevue on the Mississippi River due to the elevated water levels.
According to Stocker, as the river levels rise, the current incorporates trees and debris that have been sitting on the shore for an extended period.
As she explained, “Although you may only see a small log protruding above the water, the entire tree lies just beneath the surface.”
According to her, in certain regions, there could be more than just trees underneath the surface.
According to the expert, in areas experiencing flooding such as Saylorville or Coralville Reservoir, certain buildings may be submerged underwater. To locate these buildings, one can look out for orange buoys which may indicate the location of important structures such as shower houses and fee stations.
When flood stage is reached, numerous locations shut down, including the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, which closes when it reaches a height of 13 feet or more. As of 7:00 p.m. on July 3, the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids was at 9.8 feet and still open.