Water, Water Every-Where
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
The water keeps coming. And coming. And coming. And coming.
"Generally speaking," said County Surveyor Dick Kemper today, "I would say with frost in the ground and the sudden snow melt and all the rain, it's probably made the conditions worse than I've seen in a while. Probably in 10 years."
"We're seeing flood conditions, no doubt," said Rob Ladson, Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer.
Kemper said water levels around the Tippecanoe River, Pike Lake and the south side of Nappanee around Paddlebrook Pond Subdivision are all high.
He said he has not yet received as many complaints of flooding as he anticipated. The water from rural drains, farm ground, open ditches and even main tributaries like Turkey Creek is pouring over the banks.
"It's just everything is backing up," said Kemper. He said calls are coming in about some problem areas.
The highway department is keeping a list of flooded roads. "There's a lot of flooding and closings," Ladson said.
As of 11 a.m. today, the highway department had 20 locations with high-water signs. Seven of those are closed. The 20 locations are high-water, impassable and getting worse, Ladson said. The highway department ran out of "road closed" barricades but is putting up flashers to warn drivers.
Ladson said drivers should be cautious.
Newer drains, like the ones in place at Flagstone Terrace Subdivision, are more prepared to handle the water, said Kemper. The rural and farm drains were not designed for this kind of situation, he said. They were more designed to take care of water run-off during crop time.
One of the more severely affected areas by high water is around Pike Lake, Kemper said. It has the second highest variation between a normal year level and a 100-year flood level, at 6.3 feet. The worst in Kosciusko County is Ridinger Lake, at 7 feet. Kemper said that isn't to say the county is experiencing a 100-year flood level, but both lakes flow into the Tippecanoe River, which also is backed up.
"Typically, they are a problem area," Kemper said of Ridinger and Pike lakes.
In a couple of days, Kemper said, he hopes to see the waters recede.
The locations with high-water signs, according to the highway department are: CR 300E, south of CR 100N; CR 300E and County Farm Road; Packerton Road between CRs 550S and 600S; CR 550N between CRs 75E and 100E; CR 700S, between 875W and 1000N; CR 900E, north of EMS W17 Lane; CR 1350N, east of CR 950W; CR 800S, east of Ind. 19; CRs 275E and 225S; CR 1250S at 8113 W. CR 1250S; 8426 E. CR 250S; 900 E. CR 250S; 9498 E. CR 250S; CR 900W at CR 600S; CR 600E north of CR 200N; 200S, between CR 950W and Ind. 15; CR 1000E north of CR 1100N; CR 550S between Ind. 15 and CR 200W; CR 200S between Ind. 19 and CR 900W; CR 1200S between CRs 300E and 400E.
Ladson said, "I'm sure there'll be more."
The National Weather Service in northern Indiana issued a flood warning today for the following Indiana counties until 7 p.m.: Elkhart, St. Joseph, LaPorte, LaGrange, Noble, Marshall, Kosciusko, Starke, Fulton and Pulaski. [[In-content Ad]]
The water keeps coming. And coming. And coming. And coming.
"Generally speaking," said County Surveyor Dick Kemper today, "I would say with frost in the ground and the sudden snow melt and all the rain, it's probably made the conditions worse than I've seen in a while. Probably in 10 years."
"We're seeing flood conditions, no doubt," said Rob Ladson, Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer.
Kemper said water levels around the Tippecanoe River, Pike Lake and the south side of Nappanee around Paddlebrook Pond Subdivision are all high.
He said he has not yet received as many complaints of flooding as he anticipated. The water from rural drains, farm ground, open ditches and even main tributaries like Turkey Creek is pouring over the banks.
"It's just everything is backing up," said Kemper. He said calls are coming in about some problem areas.
The highway department is keeping a list of flooded roads. "There's a lot of flooding and closings," Ladson said.
As of 11 a.m. today, the highway department had 20 locations with high-water signs. Seven of those are closed. The 20 locations are high-water, impassable and getting worse, Ladson said. The highway department ran out of "road closed" barricades but is putting up flashers to warn drivers.
Ladson said drivers should be cautious.
Newer drains, like the ones in place at Flagstone Terrace Subdivision, are more prepared to handle the water, said Kemper. The rural and farm drains were not designed for this kind of situation, he said. They were more designed to take care of water run-off during crop time.
One of the more severely affected areas by high water is around Pike Lake, Kemper said. It has the second highest variation between a normal year level and a 100-year flood level, at 6.3 feet. The worst in Kosciusko County is Ridinger Lake, at 7 feet. Kemper said that isn't to say the county is experiencing a 100-year flood level, but both lakes flow into the Tippecanoe River, which also is backed up.
"Typically, they are a problem area," Kemper said of Ridinger and Pike lakes.
In a couple of days, Kemper said, he hopes to see the waters recede.
The locations with high-water signs, according to the highway department are: CR 300E, south of CR 100N; CR 300E and County Farm Road; Packerton Road between CRs 550S and 600S; CR 550N between CRs 75E and 100E; CR 700S, between 875W and 1000N; CR 900E, north of EMS W17 Lane; CR 1350N, east of CR 950W; CR 800S, east of Ind. 19; CRs 275E and 225S; CR 1250S at 8113 W. CR 1250S; 8426 E. CR 250S; 900 E. CR 250S; 9498 E. CR 250S; CR 900W at CR 600S; CR 600E north of CR 200N; 200S, between CR 950W and Ind. 15; CR 1000E north of CR 1100N; CR 550S between Ind. 15 and CR 200W; CR 200S between Ind. 19 and CR 900W; CR 1200S between CRs 300E and 400E.
Ladson said, "I'm sure there'll be more."
The National Weather Service in northern Indiana issued a flood warning today for the following Indiana counties until 7 p.m.: Elkhart, St. Joseph, LaPorte, LaGrange, Noble, Marshall, Kosciusko, Starke, Fulton and Pulaski. [[In-content Ad]]