Heavy rains this week in northeast Iowa are pushing up the level of the Mississippi River and the city of Davenport is starting to take flood protection measures.
As of early afternoon Friday, the river was nearly 4 feet below flood stage and expected to rise about two feet. Currently the National Weather Service is predicting the river will crest in the Quad Cities at 1.7 feet below flood stage next Wednesday.
At that level, water affects the lowest section of South Concord Street, south of River Drive in Davenport, including surrounding some houses, and the lowest sections of the Enchanted Island causeway.
The public works department began putting up high water warning signs Friday along South Concord, and plans to close the road when the river reaches two feet below flood stage.