Port of La Crosse Under Water

It's been one of the wettest summers on record here in the Upper Mississippi River Valley and the Fall season is following the same path. Last week the Upper Mississippi River Valley experienced some strong thunderstorms that dropped rain amounts ranging from 3 inches to as much as 10 inches in some locations. The creeks and rivers are all overflowing their banks and flooding some small towns and creating devastation everywhere. All these smaller rivers empty out into the Mississippi River causing it now to exceed flood stages in our area from Red Wing,MN to Prairie Du Chein,WI. River stages are expected to range from 13ft. to 20ft.  In Port of La Crosse the flood stage is 12ft. and the Mississippi River is suppose to reach 13.5ft. by Wednesday and crest Thursday which means the Mississippi River levels should start to go down. The weather forecast is predicting dry weather for several days so that should help the lowering process and give residents a chance to start to clean up.
Here at Port of La Crosse Houseboating Excursions is unable to reach our houseboat. All boating residences had to be evacuated because  the Mississippi River levels are getting so high it flooded the access road to the marina and all the surrounding land. Check out our photos we took when we left and the Mississippi River is suppose to go 1.5ft. higher than these photos show.

Also in these photos you see how people are getting around to clear out and the Harbormaster and his crew cruise the area continually clearing the the marina of large floating debris to prevent damage to boats and docks, they are also checking to make sure everything is secure and safe. The Pettibone Campground is also under water and residents were forced to evacuate and move their campers to high ground and some have set up camp in nearby parking lots.  The Mississippi River is very dangerous to cruise at this time even the commercial barges are forced to stay at port because navigating is very difficult. The US Army Corps of Engineers is asking everyone to stay off the Mississippi River until levels fall below flood stage and if you must go cruise the Mississippi River a mandatory NO WAKE is in force until water levels fall below 10ft. With all the debris floating in the river right now you will be running the risk of hitting something you can't see just under the surface and possibly destroying your boat and motor. If you must venture out on The Mississippi River please do so safely and cautiously.
Continue to follow Houseboating Excursions in the Mississippi River Valley as we cruise and explore more destinations and provide more information, adventures, and resources. Please Don't Move Firewood and Help Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers.