No flooding worry for Cedar Rapids waterways mid-morning Wednesday

Craig Hanson, the city's public works maintenance manager, says everything is under control in Cedar Rapids' waterways despite a lot of rain in the Cedar Rapids area and especially north in the Waterloo area.

National Weather Service river forecasts along the Cedar River indicate that the river at Cedar Rapids may reach 9 to 10 feet in the days ahead. It is running at about 8 feet now. Twelve feet is considered the flood stage in Cedar Rapids, but at that level only minor flooding occurs.

Hanson said some creeks in the metro area were nearing the tops of their banks on Tuesday with Prairie Creek at J Street SW a bit out of its banks. Still, Prairie Creek hadn't gotten over the bridge at J Street SW, which he said is the first Prairie Creek flooding issue of importance.