January 8, 2004

 

River Will Stay High for Days

Flooding affects some homes, roads and businesses

 

Sheldon Schafer
sshafer@courier-journal.com

The Ohio River at Louisville crested yesterday morning nearly 1-1/2 feet above flood level, and it probably will remain about that high through at least Sunday, officials said.

The high water caused flooding along riverfront roads in Clark and Floyd counties and in some low-lying areas, but didn't spread beyond that.

Water Street in New Albany was closed along the Ohio, as were Five Mile Lane and Seven Mile Lane in Franklin Township.

Operators of the Caesars Indiana casino in Harrison County had feared they might have to shut down the riverboat because of the high water. But that didn't happen.

At midmorning yesterday Caesars spokeswoman Judy Hess said, "We think the worst is over." She said the river wasn't likely to reach the level that would produce a mandatory shutdown.

Clark County officials didn't report any road closings.

Across the river in northeastern Jefferson County, Ky., residents of some low-lying homes off Upper River Road, including Waldoah and Juniper beaches, voluntarily evacuated to escape the high water, and businesses on the river reported that they are beginning to feel an economic pinch from the flooding.

Duke Greene felt a double whammy. He moved out of the house he lives in on Juniper Beach near Lime Kiln Lane Tuesday night, and a tenant who lives in a house he owns on Waldoah Beach near Cox Park evacuated that day because of flooding.

"It's the price you pay for living on the river," Greene said yesterday afternoon as he sat in a pickup truck on Waldoah surveying the floodwater that covered the road leading to about 20 homes. The ground levels of all of the homes were flooded.
Last weekend's heavy rain sent the Ohio to a crest of 24.4 feet on McAlpine Dam's upper gauge at 7 a.m. yesterday, said Robert Szappanos, a hydrometeorologist with the National Weather Service at Louisville.

The river probably won't recede below the 23-foot flood stage until early next week. The main culprit will be a "surge" of water from upriver locations, such as Cincinnati, that also received heavy precipitation last weekend, Szappanos said.

The good news, he said, is that there is no significant precipitation in the five-day forecast.

The Metropolitan Sewer District installed floodgates yesterday at two of the lowest points along the floodwall, at 10th and at 27th streets. Vince Bowlin, an MSD engineering administrator, said the agency doesn't plan to put up any more gates or to turn on any more than the seven pumping stations that were in operation yesterday. The stations pump water coming from streams into the storm-water drainage system over the floodwall and into the river.

The only major road closed by high water was River Road between Third and Seventh streets.

Metro Parks spokesman Jason Cissell said Eva Bandman and Cox parks along Upper River Road will remain closed until several days after the river recedes so park workers can clean up debris left by the high water.

Downriver, the boat ramp at Riverview Park near Jefferson Riverport International also remains closed. Part of the Great Lawn at Waterfront Park was under water, as was the western portion of the downtown wharf.

MSD officials said some residents, primarily along Upper River Road, had left their homes voluntarily because of high water. Flooded roads blocked vehicle access to some areas. A few residents at Waldoah Beach remained in their houses, getting in and out by boat, Greene said.

Meanwhile, a swift current and debris in the river played havoc with barge traffic and businesses along the Ohio.

Tom Nugent, president of Nugent Sand Co., 1833 Upper River Road, said the conveyors that his company uses to unload barges are under water. He said the last barge came in Monday and the next one isn't expected until the river level drops, probably early next week.

River Metals Recycling, 2255 Upper River Road, which dismantles barges, also hasn't had any materials come in or go out by barge since Monday. "The barge-loading dock is flooded," said general manager Tim Bernstein. "So far it's only been a mild disruption, but if prolonged, we will lose money and have to try to make it up."

The Port o Call floating restaurant opened at the downtown wharf New Year's Eve, but it has been closed since Sunday night because of high water. Partner Milford Renfrow said the restaurant lost several thousand dollars when some prepared food couldn't be used and spoiled. Although a hindrance, the closing "isn't a tremendous blow," Renfrow said.

Staff writer Harold J. Adams contributed to this story.

 Debris has collected near the Falls of the Ohio in Clarksville during the recent high water. The flooding affected several riverfront roads in Clark and Floyd counties.

High water covered part of a lamppost in a Jeffersonville park.