High Water Event (September 20-22, 2009)

La Russell Access Point experienced a high water event Sunday (September 20, 2009) due to unusually large amount of precipitation in the area. The Monet Times reported today, "Cleanup continues in Monett, where emergency management say at least 70 businesses and 15 trailer homes had some damage after heavy rain fell over the weekend. David Compton, emergency management director for Barry and Lawrence counties, said between 8 and 9 inches of rain fell in Monett, with areas northeast of the town reporting up to a foot of rain."

A second high water event occurred Monday, Sept 21. The Springfield News Leader (09/22/09) reported, "Reports of flash flooding around the county followed a deluge Monday night that dropped as much as 4 inches or more of rain on some parts of the Ozarks. In Springfield, the National Weather Service reported more than 2 inches of rainfall by about 9 p.m., with the heaviest downpour recorded from 5-6 p.m., when heavy storm clouds descended on the city amid a flurry of thunderstorm and flash flooding watches and warnings. Flash flood warnings, the more severe alert signifying ongoing or imminent threats, were in effect in Greene County and several neighboring counties through the early morning. NWS meteorologist Steve Lindenberg said reports of flooding were widespread Monday night." [double click on graph for close-up view]

The USGS reported that Spring River (at La Russell) went from a depth of 1.50' at 7:15 am to 7.54' at 8:15 pm (Sunday, September 20, 2009). That is an increase of 6'in 13 hours (or 5.5" increase per hour). The water depth decreased on Monday to a low of 2.61' at 4:30 pm, before rising to 5.96' at 5:30 am (Tuesday, Sept 22, 2009).