According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, three northern Indiana reservoirs are at record high levels but still helping to prevent the flooding of communities downstream.

The Mississinewa Lake near Peru was at 777.2 feet July 18, more than 40 feet above typical summer levels and less than two feet from reaching the dam’s spillway. Salamonie Lake was at 792.2 feet, less than one foot below flood stage, and J. Edward Roush Lake near Huntington stood at 796.2 feet, less than two feet below flood stage.

“If the three reservoirs weren’t in place, the water levels this last month in the downstream communities would’ve been a lot higher and there would have been damages,” said Scot Dahms, operations manager for the Upper Wabash Lakes division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Dahms stated the reservoirs and dams have saved millions of dollars in property damages since being installed in the 1960s. Engineers will wait for space to open up in the Wabash and Eel Rivers before increasing the release of water from the reservoirs, bringing the levels down.

As of July 17, the Wabash River was at 9.1 feet, below its flood stage of 15 feet. The Eel River was at 6.3 feet, with a flood stage of 9 feet. Even if the area goes back to its normal summer rainfall amounts now, it may be at least a month until river levels diminish to normal.

Source: Logansport Pharos-Tribune