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Issued: 12:30 p.m.

Water levels on Lake Monona continue to be well above the 100 year level. It is anticipated that they will fall to the 100 year level if we maintain sunny weather with no rain for an additional six days. We are in no way free of flooding concerns. Although we have sunshine in the near-term forecast, additional rain will again tax the levels of Lake Monona, the Yahara River and our storm sewer system.
Bike Path & Road Closures
City Traffic Engineers have been forced to again close the Capital City Trail between Broom Street and Blair Street where it passes Monona Terrace due to the theft of pumps being used to remove water from the trail. The City was utilizing eight pumps to maintain the trail for cyclists and pedestrians. Seven of them were stolen overnight resulting in eight inches of water on the trail. Work is underway to replace the pumps.
One inbound lane of John Nolen Drive will again be closed from 9:00 am until 3:00 today, (Wednesday) due to shoreline work to mitigate flooding damage on Lake Monona. The bike path will remain open. Bikes are being directed to walk around the construction zone.
Sandbags
City Engineers are reiterating residents and businesses in the isthmus who are utilizing sandbags should not remove the bags. Although we have sunshine in the near-term forecast, additional rain will again tax the levels of Lake Monona, the Yahara River and our storm sewer system.
There will be a curbside collection program for sandbags when the threat for flooding ends. The specifics about how that will work will be announced when the curbside program starts. In the interim, residents can consider the following options regarding bags.

  • Option 1: Store sandbags for future use. Chances are that you have the sandbags today it’s because your property flooded, or was at risk of flooding. This could very well happen again – and sooner than you may expect - so you can store them for future use.
  • Option 2: Slit the sandbags open and spread the sand on your property (lawns, gardens, etc.), and throw the empty bags into the refuse. Do not place full sandbags into the refuse containers. And do not dump the sand into your refuse container. They will wind up overloading the carts.
  • Option 3: Return the full sandbags to one of the many sandbag sites located around Madison.

As always, updated information on flood related projects can be found at cityofmadison.com/flooding.

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