Flood warnings issued in area
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RUSSELL -- The city of Russell is under a flood warning. The National Weather Service said the Redwood River at Russell was at 15 feet, having peaked at 15.73 on June 24, dropping and re-reaching the 15-foot mark as of Sunday. The flood mark for the Redwood River at Russell is 14 feet, said the U.S. Geological Survey.
On Sunday, the NWS said flood warnings continue for other area rivers, including the West Fork of the Des Moines River near Avoca, and the Redwood River near Redwood Falls.
Water standing in the parks and along railroad tracks in Russell has residents concerned about more flooding.
"We've had an inch and a half just overnight," resident Mary Erickson said Sunday. "That's on top of the inch or so the night before. The river's high, but not as high as in 1983."
It was high enough to deposit baby bullheads on her neighbor's yard, she said, where, of course, they died.
Erickson said she moved into Russell in 1981, and learned some history and science about the Redwood River that goes through town near her home.
"We used to be able to cross the river in the middle of it on foot," she said, "but it's changed every year."
When the flood of 1983 came along, she learned some more.
"We had water standing in our yard and I thought it was the sewer pump," Erickson said. "It's wasn't. There are about seven springs in our yard."
The river reached quite a ways up in 1983.
"The river was so high, I could lie on the bridge and reach down and touch the water," she said.
The river is nowhere near that high yet this summer, though.
When the river went down, she noticed that it had deposited leaves and brush halfway up the hillside.
"That was the only time I've seen it higher that it is right now," Erickson said. "This morning, (Sunday) on our way to church on County Road 2, I saw water setting right on the road."
Driving through town, passers-by could see water standing in the park-like areas on either side of County Highway 31 and between the railroad tracks. There was also enough water standing in Russell Park that would prevent campers from coming in.
Standing water was also drowning out grain fields just east of town.
Erickson was working at the Cenex station in Russell on Sunday when a man stopped in. He had been to Tyler to help suck out the water from the school basement. A crew of volunteers had been there that day to assist in the project.