Thursday, March 31
The water was only up about a half-foot, but it's spreading out more around the marina. The road to the lower parking lot for the 100 and 200 docks has been closed and the water is up eight feet beyond the concrete parking bumpers. A pair of geese that have been hanging around the area, rarely more than a yard apart, seem worried. Maybe they had a nest on the lower land that now is flooded.
At the lift well the water is now getting closer to the beams that support the wooden ramps and the ramp to the 300 Dock has assumed a definite pyramid shape. Boats being launched are so high when they settle into the water that skippers don't have to use the stairs down to the river, but step up to the bow.
At the beginning of the walking path about 20 feet of asphalt are covered; at the north end of Lake Potter the water is up well into the parking lot and the lot for the north ramp has been closed. The parking lots for the east ramp also are closed and water winds around the roads. The high water has arrived.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Water at Sunset Marina reaches first mark
Wednesday, March 30
The water was only up a few inches at Sunset Marina, but it spread out feet horizontally as it continues to rise. The water has reached into a few inches of the lower road to the 100 and 200 docks at the marina in the area behind the trees in the lower right corner of the aerial photo that opens this blog. A sign at the top of the road leading to the docks announces that the road to the docks will close on Friday.
The south end of the walking path in Sunset Park also is covered by water, as is the path at the north end where it parallels the boat ramp parking lot.
Tuesday and Wednesday my wife Judy and I taught four classes for employees at MidAmerican Energy for employees that may have to take to boats to respond to emergencies.
The water was only up a few inches at Sunset Marina, but it spread out feet horizontally as it continues to rise. The water has reached into a few inches of the lower road to the 100 and 200 docks at the marina in the area behind the trees in the lower right corner of the aerial photo that opens this blog. A sign at the top of the road leading to the docks announces that the road to the docks will close on Friday.
The south end of the walking path in Sunset Park also is covered by water, as is the path at the north end where it parallels the boat ramp parking lot.
Tuesday and Wednesday my wife Judy and I taught four classes for employees at MidAmerican Energy for employees that may have to take to boats to respond to emergencies.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Changes coming slowly at Sunset Marina
Tuesday, March 29
At Sunset Marina change is happening very slowly. The water continues to climb, but only by inches -- not that anybody's complaining. The water is getting to the point soon where even a vertical increase of inches is going to result in a horizontal movement of feet. In a trip across the Centennial Bridge it could be seen that the water is within inches of topping the Davenport seawall. As soon as it tops the wall the water will spread across LeClaire Park. Today the water should hit the flood state of 15 feet, a milestone which predictions said would have happened last Saturday.
At Sunset Marina change is happening very slowly. The water continues to climb, but only by inches -- not that anybody's complaining. The water is getting to the point soon where even a vertical increase of inches is going to result in a horizontal movement of feet. In a trip across the Centennial Bridge it could be seen that the water is within inches of topping the Davenport seawall. As soon as it tops the wall the water will spread across LeClaire Park. Today the water should hit the flood state of 15 feet, a milestone which predictions said would have happened last Saturday.
Monday, March 28, 2011
River still inching up
Monday, March 28
The Mississippi River is inexorably inching up. It is especially noticeable at the north end of Lake Potter. At the north launch ramp the water is up onto the parking lot and the walking path is partially covered.
In the south end of Lake Potter, the home of Sunset Marina, the rising water is less noticeable. Water has covered the low area south of the 200 Dock and the north tip of Pettifer Island, which makes up the downstream side of the entrance, now is covered by water. It's hard to believe that many years ago this was planted with corn.
More than half of the boats are out of the parkng lot at the marina. Some have been taken out for dry storage elsewhere, but most have been launched by the crew at the marina.
The Mississippi River is inexorably inching up. It is especially noticeable at the north end of Lake Potter. At the north launch ramp the water is up onto the parking lot and the walking path is partially covered.
In the south end of Lake Potter, the home of Sunset Marina, the rising water is less noticeable. Water has covered the low area south of the 200 Dock and the north tip of Pettifer Island, which makes up the downstream side of the entrance, now is covered by water. It's hard to believe that many years ago this was planted with corn.
More than half of the boats are out of the parkng lot at the marina. Some have been taken out for dry storage elsewhere, but most have been launched by the crew at the marina.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Marina strangely quiet Sunday
Sunday, March 27
Sunset Marina was strangely quiet for a beautiful, sunny day late in March. There were only a couple of people working on their boats, and these were primarily standing around talking. Of course, it was only 41 degrees with a brisk breeze blowing which made it seem a lot colder.
The water didn't appear to be up much, if any, since late afternoon yesterday. Despite the fact the water is not coming up as fast as first predicted, Chad, Chuck, Tony and Jim have been launching boats at an incredible rate. The empty slips are starting to fill, making the area look more like a marina.
Sunset Marina was strangely quiet for a beautiful, sunny day late in March. There were only a couple of people working on their boats, and these were primarily standing around talking. Of course, it was only 41 degrees with a brisk breeze blowing which made it seem a lot colder.
The water didn't appear to be up much, if any, since late afternoon yesterday. Despite the fact the water is not coming up as fast as first predicted, Chad, Chuck, Tony and Jim have been launching boats at an incredible rate. The empty slips are starting to fill, making the area look more like a marina.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Coast Guard Auxiliary moves out
Saturday, March 26
Today the Coast Guard Auxiliary moved from its station at Sunset Marina into a 48-foot semi-trailer loaned by Adrian Carriers. The inside of the station now is a big empty.
The move was accomplished in less than 2 hours by 19 people, including 6 Granato kids who outworked most of the adults.
A trip around Lake Potter shows the water up only a little since Friday. The 300 ramp's peak is only a little higher and the ramps leading to the 400, 500 and 600 docks are almost dead flat from shore to its docks. Around the lake the ramps to the launching and courtesy docks all are under water and the parking lot at the north end next to the river has the river lapping at its edge.
It would be great to think that the water would get only a little higher.
Today the Coast Guard Auxiliary moved from its station at Sunset Marina into a 48-foot semi-trailer loaned by Adrian Carriers. The inside of the station now is a big empty.
The move was accomplished in less than 2 hours by 19 people, including 6 Granato kids who outworked most of the adults.
A trip around Lake Potter shows the water up only a little since Friday. The 300 ramp's peak is only a little higher and the ramps leading to the 400, 500 and 600 docks are almost dead flat from shore to its docks. Around the lake the ramps to the launching and courtesy docks all are under water and the parking lot at the north end next to the river has the river lapping at its edge.
It would be great to think that the water would get only a little higher.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Falling forecast soothing nerves
Friday, March 25
With the reduction in the high water forecast nerves around Sunset Marina soothed noticeably. True, boats were still splashing several times an hour, but the pressure to launch quickly was mssing.
But the water still was coming up, just more slowly than the .9 of a foot recorded yesterday. But Thursday the ramp to the 300 Dock was nearly flat; today the dock went up and down slightly from its center float.
The maximum of 14.5 for the next week or so looks mightly good to those who, for one reason or another, keep at least one eye on the river levels.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary still is planning on emptying the Station at Sunset Marina into a semi. We're afraid that skipping the evacuation might jinx us somehow. We're not exclusive -- anyone who would like to join us is welcome after 9 a.m.
With the reduction in the high water forecast nerves around Sunset Marina soothed noticeably. True, boats were still splashing several times an hour, but the pressure to launch quickly was mssing.
But the water still was coming up, just more slowly than the .9 of a foot recorded yesterday. But Thursday the ramp to the 300 Dock was nearly flat; today the dock went up and down slightly from its center float.
The maximum of 14.5 for the next week or so looks mightly good to those who, for one reason or another, keep at least one eye on the river levels.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary still is planning on emptying the Station at Sunset Marina into a semi. We're afraid that skipping the evacuation might jinx us somehow. We're not exclusive -- anyone who would like to join us is welcome after 9 a.m.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Thursday, March 24
Today was confusing around Sunset marina. The day started out with everybody in a hurry -- to get boats ready for launching; to launch boats; to get new information on what the river was going to do. Our boat -- Riverboater -- was as ready as it was going to get: the bottom had been painted and the hull was about 75% waxed, but it was still wrapped up in its shrink wrap. My day started by slicing the plastic down the middle and then I got on the ground to peel the plastic away. Then I got a demonstration of how cold it really was; a piece of ice about the size of a dinner plate and an inch thick broke over my head.
The boat was now ready to launch so I joined Judy in the Coast Guard Auxiliary Station to help her pack up equipment before storing it in a 48-foot semi loaned to us. About 1 p.m. I got the word that our boat was the next to be launched. Waiting for the boat to be brought to the lift well, I met Alan Shay, son of our boat's previous owner, who asked if I was going to drive our boat to its slip or have it pushed over. He said he was having his boat pushed over so the antifreeze would still be in the engine in case it got colder than forecast. I followed his lead.
I then got word that the flood had been slowed and possibly not nearly as high. We can only hope and wait for the next flood forecast.
Today was confusing around Sunset marina. The day started out with everybody in a hurry -- to get boats ready for launching; to launch boats; to get new information on what the river was going to do. Our boat -- Riverboater -- was as ready as it was going to get: the bottom had been painted and the hull was about 75% waxed, but it was still wrapped up in its shrink wrap. My day started by slicing the plastic down the middle and then I got on the ground to peel the plastic away. Then I got a demonstration of how cold it really was; a piece of ice about the size of a dinner plate and an inch thick broke over my head.
The boat was now ready to launch so I joined Judy in the Coast Guard Auxiliary Station to help her pack up equipment before storing it in a 48-foot semi loaned to us. About 1 p.m. I got the word that our boat was the next to be launched. Waiting for the boat to be brought to the lift well, I met Alan Shay, son of our boat's previous owner, who asked if I was going to drive our boat to its slip or have it pushed over. He said he was having his boat pushed over so the antifreeze would still be in the engine in case it got colder than forecast. I followed his lead.
I then got word that the flood had been slowed and possibly not nearly as high. We can only hope and wait for the next flood forecast.
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