The Cedar River has risen more than two feet due to heavy rainfall to the north, and it's expected to continue to rise until Tuesday.

As of 9 a.m. Sunday, the river was at 7.89 feet in Cedar Rapids. It's expected to crest Tuesday morning at just over 10 feet, well under the 12-foot flood stage. Still, some roads will close. Justin Koller, City of Cedar Rapids Sewer Operations Manager, says some city streets would need to close when the river reaches just 8 feet. He told the Gazette, "... we would close Fish Court off of Old River Road SW and Robbins Lake off of Ellis Boulevard N.W." Obviously, other roads will also have to be closed as the river rises to 10.1 feet and we'll keep you up-to-date on those. The city begins following the flood manual once the river hits 10 feet, which it is expected to do for only a few hours on Tuesday.

Thankfully, there hasn't been much of a need to keep a close eye on the Cedar River this year. However, this is a reminder of the danger that lurks in the channel that runs through Cedar Rapids and the city's flood protection is still years and years from being complete. The news this past week that Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley isn't holding his breath that the city will ever get the $73 million promised by the federal government is a blow. City leaders are left not only to get the protection built but find even more money to get it done. Not doing so isn't an option. Just look at the way development has exploded downtown, on both sides of the river, in the last few years. Seeing so many Cedar Rapids neighborhoods underwater again is unthinkable and unacceptable. I know it will take many years to get the flood protection fully in place, but I, for one, will feel a whole lot better when it's complete.

Cedar River at Cedar Rapids river stage forecast 8-28-16
via NOAA
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