Mississippi River at Canton Lock and Dam 20

The past week

What floods at each level

• 110000 ft

  At this approximate discharge, the Corps will raise the gates out of the water, creating "open river" conditions.

• 29.3 ft

  Water reaches the 12,000 volt transformer pad at Lock 20.

• 27 ft

  Water reaches the top of the lower gates.

• 26 ft

  The Lock and Dam 20 Control Center begins flooding at this height.

• 25.7 ft

  The Illinois levee protecting Meyer, IL is overtopped. The town of Meyer begins flooding.

• 24.5 ft

  Lock and Dam 20 maintenance buildings begin flooding.

• 20 ft

  Flood waters reach the top of the upper gates.

• 19.6 ft

  Water reaches the top of the lock wall, flooding the lock chamber.

• 18.1 ft

  Railroad tracks near the campgrounds begin flooding at this height.

• 18 ft

  Near this level, the lock is closed to navigation. This level will vary with circumstance. Also, the railroad crossing at the east end of Henderson Street floods at this height.

• 17.5 ft

  At this height, the city of Canton will install the flood gates at the railroad opening and at Route B north of town.

• 17.3 ft

  State Highway B, or Business U.S. Highway 61, is closed from Missouri Highway 16 in Canton to north of Canton at the levee flood gate near this level.

• 16.6 ft

  Front Street leading to the campground and Corps park campgrounds flood at this height.

• 15.6 ft

  North Front Street and the first 2-3 campsites in Mississippi Park begin flooding at this height.

• 14 ft

  Both banks begin to overflow.

• 9 ft

  Above 8.7 to 9.2 feet, the Corps will raise the gates out of the water, allowing for "open river" conditions. This corresponds to a discharge of approximately 110,000 cfs.

• 8.5 ft

  The Corps will not allow the pool level to drop below 8.5 feet (higher flows below 100K). At low flows, they allow a 2-foot variation between 11.0 and 13.0 feet. At higher flows below 100K, the range is actually lower, between 8.5 and 10.5 feet. Above 110K cfs, the gates are raised above the water surface, allowing open river conditions.

Highest crests on record

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