LJWorld.com / Hydrologist doesn't expect more flooding

Archive for Wednesday, August 25, 2004

August 25, 2004

Clinton Lake had risen at least 2 feet by Tuesday morning, and the Lawrence area remained under a flash flood watch, but meteorologists and water experts aren't expecting flooding from the Kansas River or smaller streams anytime soon.

Until Monday night's storm, river flow at Lecompton had been less than 3,000 cubic feet per second, less than the normal flow of 3,500 cfs, said Brian Loving, hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Lawrence.

"We've had a lot of rain since the first of the year, but the lakes were really low," Loving said. "Rivers are almost completely regulated by the reservoirs."

Before Monday's deluge, Clinton Lake's official water level had been as much as 3 feet higher than summer 2003. And by Tuesday morning, it had risen another two feet, Loving said.

At Clinton Lake Marina, the water level appeared to have risen more than 3 feet overnight, said Lee Kennedy, general manager. But the rise was not causing any problems for the marina's docks or loading ramps.

"We just winch them up," he said.

Groundwater tables, which also factor into flood causes, also had been extremely low because of the drought and dry conditions the past two years, Loving said.

"The water tables are still low enough that we are not seeing as much of the groundwater contribution that we normally do," Loving said.

Northeast Kansas has had periods of abundant rain this summer, but also has had dry spells of several days between those rains. A total of four inches of rain was recorded Monday night and Tuesday morning at the USGS Lecompton rain gauge. It had been two weeks, however, since the last rain, which amounted to only about a half-inch.

"It comes in spurts," Loving said. "We get some rain, and then it will be dry for a week."