OTTUMWA, IOWA -- For Thursdays Facebook Story of the Day, viewers wanted to know how the water levels at the Des Moines River are after recent rain storms?
In Ottumwa only a few low lying areas have been affected by flooding from the river. The water is receding but with more rain in the forecast, the city is monitoring the situation.
Current levels of the Des Moines River in Ottumwa are about 10 feet now, which is where the Corps of Engineers want it for at least the next seven days.
And while the flood waters are receding and the damage was minimal, the high water did have an impact. Wapello County Project to replace the bridges near Chillicothe was slowed down. The project is funded by I-Jobs money and must be completed within two years; so even small delays make county officials nervous.
According to Corps of Engineers Assistant Operations Manager John Holt, it may increase a little in the next day.
"If the rain falls downstream like it did last week, we cut back the outflow. The criteria they would look at would be how heavy is the rain, how widespread an area it is, how long will it last and where it occurs?"
But officials remain confident conditions will dry up sooner rather than later. They also encourage residents in low-lying areas to be prepared and take action.