Restrictions put in place on Mississippi, St. Croix rivers

Thursday's flip of the calendar from April to May doesn't promise any dramatic break in the dreary weather that's plagued the Upper Midwest recently.

After the second-wettest April on record in both the Twin Cities and La Crosse, Wis., the forecast is calling for rain through Saturday, but with diminishing chances. Sunday's forecast for the Twin Cities: serious squinting, due to sunshine and a high in the upper 50s.

This week's rainfall has swollen the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers so much that officials are restricting commercial and recreational navigation, and they are also telling anglers in a specific area to slow down in their boats this weekend.

Boaters targeting a stretch of the St. Croix River for the start of the border fishing opener this weekend will encounter a mandatory no-wake zone between Taylors Falls and Prescott, Wis. That means boaters must travel at the slowest possible speed to maintain steerage but no faster than 5 miles per hour.

The restriction's aim is to reduce shoreline erosion and resulting property damage in areas not usually susceptible to wave action at lower water levels. Signs at public accesses alerting boaters to the requirement are being posted, and marina operators in the area have been notified.

The no-wake rule will remain in effect until the water level again falls below the 683 feet above sea level at Stillwater. It rose above that Monday; Wednesday at 3 p.m. it was at 684.5 and heading for a crest of 685.5 Saturday. The National Weather Service did not indicate Wednesday when it might drop back to 683.

Boat and water safety officials at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources also pointed out Wednesday that swollen and fast-running rivers often contain debris just below the surface that can present significant hazards to watercraft.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District, which operates the locks, said it expects the shutdown to last into next week.

Meanwhile, the predicted crest of the Red River at the flood-prone Fargo-Moorhead area was scaled down by a foot Wednesday. It's now expected to rise nearly 4 feet from Wednesday to Friday's expected crest. That crest is well below the levels that caused major emergencies in recent springs, so it's unlikely the city will need to build temporary sandbag and clay dikes.

But the height has caused Fargo to close stormwater sewer outlets to the river to prevent backup, said April Walker, the city engineer. Most bridges connecting the cities remain open, but several recreational lift bridges have been raised and a floating bridge has been removed from the river. No homes are in danger.

Both the Twin Cities and La Crosse recorded their second-wettest Aprils on record. The Twin Cities had recorded 6.25 inches of precipitation for the month and La Crosse 7 inches as of midafternoon Wednesday, April's final day.

Staff writer Bill McAuliffe contributed to this report.