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Mississippi Cresting at LeClaire & Quad Cities

 View of a Davenport temporary flood wall looking east from the skybridge
Michelle O'Neill
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WVIK News
View of a Davenport temporary flood wall looking east from the skybridge

Over the weekend, the Mississippi River crested upstream. And now (Monday) it's cresting in LeClaire and the Quad Cities.

The unofficial crest at Lock 15 is 21.51 feet, or 6.51 feet above flood stage. That's unofficial and surpasses the seventh highest on record set in 2008. Earlier in the day, the unofficial crest was thought to be 21.45 feet, but the river rose a little more.

Hydrologist Matt Wilson, from the Quad Cities National Weather Service, says a couple of factors caused it to crest slightly lower than predicted, but well within the forecast range.

 Screenshot of the Quad Cities National Weather Service crest, timing, and recession table. The wind is making it difficult to read the river gauges. The river at Lock 15 rose slightly to 21.51 feet after Wilson's 2 pm daily flood risk webinar.
screenshot
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Quad Cities National Weather Service
Screenshot of the Quad Cities National Weather Service crest, timing, and recession table. The wind is making it difficult to read the river gauges. The river at Lock 15 rose slightly to 21.51 feet after Wilson's 2 pm daily flood risk webinar.

"All of the streams and tributaries above here, when that water pushes off into the streams and tributaries to create backwater effects, that basically adds extra storage for the Mississippi. So some of that definitely took a couple tenths off of our crest forecast. And then the other thing is that we just didn't get any significant rainfall."

Wilson says the water will recede over the next couple of weeks in the Quad Cities. "We're expecting us to drop below 21 feet, sometime Thursday, Thursday evening, , and then drop below 20 feet by midday next Sunday."

Snowmelt was the main cause of this year's flood. Wilson says that'll be useful for the weather service to update its flood models.

 Davenport's iconic Levee Inn from the base of the skybridge
Michelle O'Neill
/
WVIK News
Davenport's iconic Levee Inn from the base of the skybridge
 Moline's 34th Street and River Drive near the Western Illinois University Quad Cities campus with Ben Butterworth Parkway completely submerged
Michelle O'Neill
/
WVIK News
Moline's 34th Street and River Drive near the Western Illinois University Quad Cities campus with Ben Butterworth Parkway completely submerged
 Rock Island's Sunset Park and Potter Lake on Saturday, April 29th, 2023
Michelle O'Neill
/
WVIK News
Rock Island's Sunset Park and Potter Lake on Saturday, April 29th, 2023
 Just upstream from the previous photo of Rock Island's Sunset Park and Lake Potter, a large pump runs near a flood gate in the city's flood wall
Michelle O'Neill
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Just upstream from the previous photo of Rock Island's Sunset Park and Lake Potter, a large pump runs near a flood gate in the city's flood wall

Related Content
  • Davenport officials are cautiously optimistic they've protected the city from severe flooding predicted for the Mississippi River.
  • The temporary levee in downtown Davenport has been breached. Around 3:50 pm, the National Weather Service in the Quad Cities issued a flash flood warning…
  • This is a collection of flood related news and information.

    Community Resources

    Bold and italicized text are clickable links to websites.

    Quad Cities National Weather Service, rivers and lakes Check this page and select your location for the most recent water levels and forecasts.

    Two shelters and three meal sites are open. The Red Cross chapter that serves the Quad Cities provides services such as shelter, meals, health care, and mental health care. The number to call for assistance is 1.800.733.2767 or 1.800-RedCross.

    The Quad Cities Salvation Army is offering free cleanup kits. They include a bucket, sponges, masks, gloves, brooms, mops, and garbage bags. They can be picked up from the Davenport office on Kirkwood Avenue, or the Moline office on 5th Avenue.

    BePreparedDavenport Click for details about sandbags and sand available through public works plus other information and resources.
    Be Prepared Bettendorf
    Rock Island Flood Prep
    Moline Flood Prep Please note the phone number for the Red Cross in the Civic Alert is not accurate. The correct number is 1.800.733.2767.
    DubuqueFloodwall and Dubuque Alerts: Street Closures, Detours, & Emergencies

    Rock Island County Emergency Management
    Scott County Emergency Management

    Street & Road Closures

    Detours are in place for many streets and roads closed due to high water. As the water recedes, many of the streets and roads are being reopened.

    In Davenport, River Drive is closed from Bridge Avenue to Highway 22. Several other streets and roads are also closed. The week of May 8th, Davenport Public Works staff noticed a major storm sewer sink hole that was uncovered as the water receded on River Drive near Brady Street. Director, Nicole Gleason, says the location of the sink hole on River Drive will make it impossible to reopen that section of the road until it's repaired. That can't happen until the floodwaters fully recede.

    River Drive in Bettendorf has been cleaned up and reopened.

    In Moline, River Drive is closed between 23rd Street to 55th Street.

    In Rock Island, 5th Avenue just west of 40th Street is closed due to water on the pavement. Sunset Drive from 31st Avenue to the park shelter and Skafidas Parkway are closed. The Sunset Marina fuel dock is closed, and pump-out service is discontinued.

    A disaster proclamation for Scott County is in effect. It allows grant assistance and case management services to be made available to residents for needs including: auto and home repairs, clothing, food, and emergency housing. The Iowa Individual Assistance Grants have income eligibility guidelines to qualify. But there are no income eligibility guidelines for case management assistance.

    Iowa Individual Assistance Grant Program form
    Application forms may also be obtained in person and submitted to: Community Action of Eastern Iowa, 500 E. 59th St., Davenport, IA 52806. The phone number is 1.563.324.3236.

    Iowa residents affected by the flood who experience legal issues (tenant-landlord disputes, employment disputes, etc.), insurance issues, or related questions may contact Iowa Legal Aid for assistance. 1-800-532-1275.

    Below the photo, you'll find WVIK News stories about flooding.