Stillwater Levee Construction Delayed
By Courtney King, NewsRadio 830 WCCO
STILLWATER, Minn. (WCCO) -- The City of Stillwater has decided to delay construction of the temporary levee on the St. Croix River.
The National Weather Service has projected a new and lower crest that will occur sometime around March 30-31.
Stillwater Police Chief John Gannaway said they are not really sure why the crest is lower, but he predicts that the bridge will still close.
"The gist of it is is that the upper Mississippi and the St. Croix really haven't started flowing as of yet," he said.
When temperatures dipped below freezing last night, Gannaway said that helped delay the river rise.
"It will delay it substantially. Historically, the St. Croix River is always one of the last ones crested," he explained. "It's usually the second week in April, so the way it's looking now it's still going to hold true."
Gannaway said they expect a second crest, but as to what level and what time frame, they are not sure.
In the meantime, levee construction will not begin until Stillwater officials have more concrete information on a higher crest.
WCCO's John Hines Interviews John Gannaway
