What goes up must come down - river receding, cleanup to begin

MUSCATINE, Iowa - The Mississippi River crested at 21.48 feet in Muscatine on July 10 but it has taken some time for the river to begin to recede in earnest. After dropping over a foot, heavy rains last week pushed the river back up, but the river has started to recede again.

Currently the river is at 19.70 feet and City officials are making plans to start cleanup actions starting Friday when the Muscle Wall from Iowa Avenue to Cedar Street will be taken down.

"We feel confident that we can start to take down our flood barriers," Brian Stineman, Public Works Director, said.

Once the muscle wall is removed Mississippi Drive will be hosed down and cleaned up. Mississippi Drive will remain closed into next week when the City plans to open Floodgate #2 (Mad Creek and 2nd Street) followed by the removal of Floodgate #1 at the eastern end of Mississippi Drive. The goal is to open Mississippi Drive Tuesday but weather or extra cleanup needs may delay the opening.

"Once we have finished cleaning up the street, we will remove the traffic control devices and reopen Mississippi Drive," Stineman said. "We want to make sure the street is safe before allowing traffic back on it."

Riverside Park will remain closed for the foreseeable future as the river continues to recede and deposit vast amounts of debris in the grassy areas and parking lots. The City will work to clear the park as quickly as possible, however, so that citizens can again enjoy the park's amenities.

The river is forecasted to fall to 18 feet on Monday and 16 feet next Thursday. The river will continue to recede and be out of flood stage by July 26.

Residents are asked to have patience as City crews begin the task of cleaning up. The Mississippi River has been above flood stage since June 27.