The Mississippi River Won't Likely Recede Until Next Week
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Mississippi River won't start to recede in St. Paul until the middle of next week.
It's already a foot above flood stage and could rise another four feet until it crests.
Many low-lying areas near downtown St. Paul have already been closed because the water has jumped the banks.
The water on Harriet Island forced A Taste of Minnesota to find a new venue. The high water also means that the Jonathan Padelford Boats will remain docked.
The company canceled four wedding receptions this weekend and had to clear their schedule through Thursday.
"Bad timing, terrible timing," said Gus Gaspardo, the vice president of the company. "It's our busiest 10 day stretch of the season, and we're a small seasonal family business."
The company says it anticipates a flood from snow melt each spring, but they've never seen something like this in the summer.
The Mississippi is expected to hit major flood stage on Sunday.
In Minneapolis, the Army Corps of Engineers opened the locks on the river Friday to lower the risk of flooding near downtown.
Gov. Mark Dayton says he'll ask for federal help to help pay for damage caused by the recent storms.
