Despite flooding, area creeks holding
<p>Recent flooding has caused increased levels of turbidity, which necessitated the boil order. In this photo, floodwaters crossed Education Way.</p>
Despite the double onslaught of non-stop melting snow and nearly constant drizzle, creeks in Lincoln County are handling the water, said an Emergency Management Agency official.
EMA Deputy Director Lisa Oedewaldt said Flower Creek, which runs right though town, is full but staying in its banks.
“Flower Creek itself is flowing good,” Oedewaldt said. “Water is high because of the rain, and there are some thick spots of ice, but the water is flowing fine and isn’t a worry. Precautions have been set.”
Oedewaldt said frozen ground and culverts continue to be a problem, such as the frozen culvert on Flower Creek Road, which because of that blockage was sending water down Flower Creek Road, jeopardizing homes. County road crews built a diversionary berm as a temporary solution until the culvert thaws, she said.
Oedewaldt said a frozen culvert near Mercer Custom Taxidermy also was causing problems on the south side of town, but she added, that is mostly caused by the rapid snow melt and the inability of the frozen ground to absorb it.
Gerry Mercer, who owns Mercer Custom Taxidermy south of town on Route 2, said he’s been battling the ebb and flow of higher run-offs.
“We have a ditch that runs between our house and the shop, and it’s been full of water,” he said. “It dropped two feet last night, so we’re hoping.”
Mercer said he was out in the deepest part in waders during the weekend, and water was 3.5-feet deep.
“The ground is starting to thaw a little bit, so now it doesn’t have to all run off, “Mercer said.
“The ground is still frozen for four to six inches,” Oedewaldt said. “Once the ground can absorb some of this and the culverts thaw we’ll be doing better.”
On Sunday, motorists on Education Way between Libby High School and Libby Elementary School were slowing because water was flowing across the road. Slow-moving water began flooding parts of the field behind the armory and flowing west over Education Way.
“That’s a frozen culvert in that area,” Oedewaldt said of Education Way. “It’s just going to take some time.”
Oedewaldt said county crews also have been grading the clay off Bowen Hill Road, as the softening clay banks have sent soil down on the roadway.
“Overall, we’re hoping for some drier weather,” Oedewaldt said. “It looks like for the next 10 days we’ll be (precipitation) free. That will help out immensely.”
For those residents needing sandbags and sand, they are available at all three county road department buildings, Pioneer Park, Libby City Shop (sand only), EmKayan Village Fire Station (sand only), MK Steak House (sand only) and Yaak Fire Hall.
The forecast is for sunny skies Tuesday and Wednesday with highs 48 and 54, respectively. Clouds return Thursday and Friday, but there is no forecast yet for rain.