Two area rivers may go back into minor flood stage today following expected rains.
However, despite a flood warning from the National Weather Service, no major flooding issues were
reported over the weekend.
Wood County Emergency Manager Brad Gilbert said this morning that the Portage River, which went into
minor flood stage on Friday, "is back down under flood stage, under action stage."
Regarding the Maumee River, "Grand Rapids will probably be under that point later today, depending
on the rain that we get," he said. Gilbert noted that today’s forecast for rain was not equal to
the large amounts seen in the region last week. The Bowling Green area alone received more than 1.5
inches.
Gilbert stated his understanding that both rivers reached moderate flood stage over the weekend. The
Maumee had been expected to crest as high as 17.5 feet, which is moderate flooding for that waterway; at
18 feet, water can begin to cover Front Street and parts of Beaver, West and Mill streets west of
downtown Grand Rapids.
Despite only moderate flooding, conditions were not easy in some portions of the county.
Mary Jane Thurston State Park, west of Grand Rapids, saw flooding that submerged the campground and
playground areas. On Friday near New Rochester, on North River Road around Zepernick Road, a vehicle had
to be abandoned in high water that reached its doors.
High water was also reported at Baird Road and McCutcheonville Pike near Fostoria, and Fostoria Road and
Scotch Ridge Road, Pemberville.
These issues are the latest in a series of flooding concerns that have plagued areas adjacent to the
Maumee and Portage rivers since January.