Rain events raise water levels in local rivers

In many years, local waters like the Crow River run high in the spring from snowmelt. In 2024, in what could be one of the later high-water years, it is rain that is the factor following what has been essentially a three-year drought.

Both the Crow and Minnesota rivers have been running at flood stage following 12- ½ inches of rain this spring, most of which came in May, although flooding impacts have been minimal.

The county did close Highway 123 between Mayer and Watertown on June 7, however, that highway has since reopened, according to Ari Lyksett, Carver County’s new chief communications officer.

With more rain, the county will continue to monitor flood conditions and is ready to activate emergency procedures in the event of high-water conditions, Lyksett said. Look to the Carver County website and social media channels for any road condition updates.

Meanwhile, rainfall nearly 50 percent above average also has also brought a flood of mosquitos, with some traditional mosquito breeding grounds not touched with water for some time now.

Those eggs still survive and are hatching this year, which has put overall mosquito numbers well above the 10-year average, according to the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District.

That is a similar pattern to last year, although mosquito numbers last spring declined throughout the summer months as drought conditions worsened. So, reports indicate it will depend on upcoming rain and weather to determine the buzz for the rest of the season.