IA DNR: Flash Flooding Closes Portions of Backbone State Park; Causes Overflows at Several Wastewater Facilities

High water has closed the trout stream portion of the park along with the north, east and west gates. The campgrounds and cabin area has not been affected by the flooding.

It is anticipated that the flooding and subsequent clean up will keep the affected portions of the park closed through next week, but park officials hope to have it re-opened by the weekend of May 2-4.

The heavy rainfall also wreaked havoc with many municipal wastewater systems, particularly in the northern portions of the state. Several cities were reporting having to pump excess water on Friday to relieve pressure on the system and prevent backups into homes and businesses.

Many other towns are likely bypassing to a stream, but are not required to report wet weather discharges until they submit their monthly reports to the DNR. However, not all rainfalls qualify as non-reportable wet weather bypasses. Generally, rainfalls of less than two inches in one hour or 4.8 inches in 24 hours would not qualify.

Those cities reporting systems overloaded due to heavy rainfall were:

Allamakee County: Postville, Waukon

Black Hawk County: Cedar Falls, Dunkerton, Hudson, Waterloo, Plainfield

Bremer County: Denver, Readlyn

Buchanan County: Lamont, Independence

Butler County: New Hartford, Parkersburg

Cedar County: West Branch

Chickasaw County: Fredericksburg

Clayton County: Garnavillo, Monona

Strawberry Point: Guttenberg

Dubuque County: Asbury, Cascade

Dubuque: Peosta

Fayette County: Fayette, Maynard, Westgate, Arlington

Franklin County: Hampton

Grundy County: Dike, Wellsburg

Hardin County: Ackley, Iowa Falls

Humboldt County: Bode, Humboldt, Livermore

Jones County: Olin

Linn County: Alburnette, Marion, Ely, Cedar Rapids

Webster County: Fort Dodge

Worth County: Kensett, Manly

For more information, contact Kevin Baskins at 515-249-2814.