January 7, 2004
Ohio River is Still on the Rise
Crest is expected at 2.2 feet above flood stage today SHELDON S. SHAFER
sshafer@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
The Ohio River is expected to crest around 11 a.m. today at slightly more than 2 feet above flood stage in Jefferson County, Metropolitan Sewer District officials said yesterday.
The rising river, swelled by as much as 4 inches of rain in some parts of the county, has closed sections of River Road and nearby parks.
But MSD Executive Director Bud Schardein said he wasn't aware of any evacuations.
MSD plans to install flood gates by early today in the floodwall near 10th and Main streets and near 27th Street close to McAlpine Dam.
MSD raised its crest projection yesterday, forecasting that the river would reach its peak late this morning at 25.2 feet on the upper gauge at McAlpine - 2.2 feet above flood stage. The level yesterday afternoon was around 23 feet. On Monday MSD had predicted the river would crest today at 24 feet.
River Road between Third and Seventh streets was closed to traffic Monday evening, Schardein said. He said the river probably will flood the intersection of River Road and Indian Hills Trail no later than today.
Much of the downtown wharf was inundated yesterday, with the Belle of Louisville and the new Port o Call floating restaurant closed and inaccessible. But Joe's Crab Shack on the wharf's east end was open, with space to park.
Part of the Great Lawn at Waterfront Park is under water, but not the new Adventure Playground near the Big Four Bridge, said Mike Kimmel, a Waterfront Development Corp. spokesman.
Eva Bandman and Cox parks along Upper River Road, as well as the boat ramp downriver at Riverview Park in southwestern Jefferson County, are closed, said Jason
Cissell, a Metro Parks spokesman. He expects them to reopen by this weekend.
Some low-lying roads in Cherokee Park that were closed over the weekend by flooding from Beargrass Creek have reopened, Cissell said.
A sign gave a sense of the water's depth in Cox Park yesterday.
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