Elevated River Levels

My wife & I are looking to do some pleasure boating (pontoon) on Lake Pepin on Monday & Tuesday next week (7/18-19). Looks like the river water levels are supposed to come up quite a bit. Anyone know what kind of impact that could have our boating plans? We would also like to have the option of motoring up towards Red Wing or Wabasha.

The NOAA graphs show it currently at 7.4 feet, but is expected to rise to 14.1 by 7/18 (putting it into the “action” level which starts at 13′). Flow rate goes from 26 kcfs to 92.

Thanks,!

We’re doing a houseboat trip out of Alma 7/14 – 7/17. I’m also curious/concerned.

Make sure to find a ramp that will be open and watch out for trees coming downstream!

Ralph, this is the website I am monitoring for the forecast water levels:
http://www.riverwatch.noaa.gov/u_mississippi.shtml

Looks like the forecasted levels have come down since yesterday. Alma doesn’t peak until after your trip so I think you’ll be okay.

Since this will be the highest level we’ve had for a couple years, it’s going to look like spring time flooding with debris.

If you don’t go flying around at +30 miles per hour you’ll be good.

Some of the navigational can “could” go under water. Keep an eye out for pockets of nervous water.

I’m curious to see how muddy the water in Pools 2 and 3 will become. Normally during a high water event, a lot of the flow is coming from the Minnesota river which carries a lot of silt from the farmland country. But most of this water will be coming from the upper Mississippi and the St. Croix water sheds which got pounded with the heavy rains on Monday. These two rivers don’t carry as much silt as the Minnesota river so I’m thinking Pools 2 and 3 won’t be as muddy as they typically are during high water.

Boone

Brian Klawitter wrote:

Since this will be the highest level we’ve had for a couple years, it’s going to look like spring time flooding with debris.

Will I need to find a different launch Brian?

Imagine hastings will be fine
Diamond bluffs probably could launch from parking lot
Prescott, not sure what it’ll look like.

Any concerns at everts?

I love dodging trees. Got so used to that on the MN river

Will this push any of Mississippi or Croix into “no wake”?

Dang. Looks like 83′ Croix is no wake.

Will take me a decade to get to my high water sturgeon spot!

Andy,

I don’t ever recall the Prescott ramp being closed due to high water. Basically the first row of parking spots may become submerged and I’m sure part of the road will be submerged. It just turns into a very wide ramp… just launch anywhere in the parking lot. The “ramp” pitch gets to be pretty shallow so those with bunk trailers can have a hard time getting their boats to float off the bunks. Watch so you don’t run into some of the street signs when heading out.

And when the Croix becomes No-Wake, it does take forever to get anyway and the sheriff will be out patrolling it. I don’t recall the Mississippi ever going to a No-Wake designation other than the standard No-Wake zones.

Boone

I was itching to go run the Kettle the past two days watching the water rise. I ran it a couple years ago at 20k and it was a heck of a ride in a Jon boat. It looked like it peaked right around 23k today.

I looked at the NPS site today and they list all of the park service ramps are closed.
https://www.nps.gov/sacn/planyourvisit/st-croix-river-conditions.htm

Sweet. Thanks Dan

The city of Prescott has closed the ramp in the past.
I’m not sure at what level the parking lot is flooded.

Everts has been open to above flood stage in the past…not sure about now.
At a predicted 12.3, it’s going to be a yawner. I plan on being out on Saturday day with the family.