NEW LONDON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – New London is taking measures to prevent the Wolf River from seeping into residential areas.
Piles of sand and sandbags were placed in the sled hill parking lot for residents concerned about the water levels, but National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Last tells WLUK the sandbags may lay untouched this week.
“It is receding, so any impacts will be lessened here in the next day or two”.
Last says it’s not unusual to see minor flooding around the Wolf River.
Right now he says the river gauge at Shiocton is the only one in the area exceeding flood stage, with levels of 12.3 feet, that’s 3 inches above flood level.
“It will take a couple of weeks I think. We’ve had some wet, from the Winter time to the early Summer, some wet periods here so it will take some time to get those rivers back to their normal level.”
The gauge in New London is running near minor flood stage at just above 8 feet.
“Slow-no wake” zones were placed throughout the river, within 500 feet of any permanent building.
Last says, “I think the main concern is to follow the slow-no-wake signs that may be posted along there so that excess water doesn’t slosh on shore an affect the parks and homes nearby.”
Although water levels are expected to go down, Last says there’s still some concerns.
“The biggest issue is the flow, how fast that water is flowing. If it is flowing fast, then certainly children should stay away from that because they could get swept downstream.”
Last expects some scattered showers later in the week, but says it won’t have any significant effect on the water levels.
