Flood in Wisconsin, May 25 to 31, 2004

The Fox River at Berlin rose above its flood stage of 13 feet on May 25th at 2115 CST. The river crested on June 18th at 16.24 feet, 3.24 feet above flood stage. Water damage to road systems, parks, treatment plants, and basements was noted along most rivers and streams. In addition, crop damage and erosion was moderate to severe in low lands. For more information, please refer to the June 2004 edition of StormData.Several all-time monthly record precipitation totals (for any month) were recorded during May across south-central and southeast Wisconsin. Official totals that broke these records include: 13.85" in Union Grove (Racine Co.), 13.55" in Racine (Racine Co.), 13.47" in Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac Co.), 12.83" in Germantown (Washington Co.), 12.16" in Burlington (Racine Co.), 12.01" 5 miles northeast of Ripon (Fond du Lac Co.) 11.26" in Fort Atkinson (Jefferson Co.), and 11.09" in Stoughton (Dane Co.). Twenty-four other stations broke monthly precipitation records. Unofficially, a monthly total of 15.26 inches was measured on the south side of the city of Fond du Lac (Fond du Lac County), at the home of the public works director. There was another unnofficial 15+ inch report near Cedarburg (Ozaukee Co.), and an unofficial 14+ inch report from near La Grange (Walworth Co.). The majority of the monthly rain across south-central and southeast Wisconsin came during the periods of May 7-14, and May 20-23.Minor to major river flooding was a concern due to widespread monthly rainfall amounts of 8 to 14 inches. The following locations had crests at or above 2 feet above flood stage sometime during the month of May: the Baraboo River at Baraboo, 3.7 feet, the Fox River at New Munster, 3.7 feet, the Sugar River at Brodhead, 3.3 feet, the Pecatonica River at Martintown, 2.9 feet, the east branch of the Pecatonica River at Blanchardville, 2.6 feet, the Baraboo River at Rock Springs, 2.5 feet, the Root River Canal at Raymond, 2.3 feet, and the Milwaukee River at Cedarburg, 2.2 feet. Most of south-central and southeast Wisconsin has not experienced such widespread flooding since 1993, and some areas haven't seen such severe flooding in 20 to 25 years. Areas of flooding across south-central and southeast Wisconsin resulted in property and crop damage. The following counties experienced significant flood damage and received a national presidential declaration: Columbia, Dane, Fond du Lac, Green, Kenosha, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, and Washington. According to the Wisconsin Uniform Disaster Situation Report, about $197,508 in spending resulted from debris clearance across those counties, about $217,963 in spending resulted from emergency protective measures, about $330,954 in damage to road systems, about $306,000 in damage water control facilities, about $76,854 from public building damage, about $755,369 from public utility damage, and $184,016 from other expenses. Total expenses come to about $1,991,810. Two-hundred homes and 10 businesses reported minor flood damage in Columbia County; 989 homes reported minor flood damage in Fond du Lac County; 68 homes and 15 businesses reported minor flood damage in Ozaukee County; and 11 homes and 1 business reported minor flood damage, and 1 home reported major flood damage in Racine County. Heavy rain during the month of May resulted in widespread flooding in farmers' fields, resulting in extensive crop damage. Many farmers had to wait several weeks to replant once flood waters receded, delaying the growing season 3 to 4 weeks. At the end of May, many farmers had only planted 35 to 40% of their corn crop (75 to 80% is normal), and only 5 to 10% of their soybean crop (50 to 60% is normal). Heavy rains during the month of May contributed directly to the aid of the replenishing of Lake Michigan water levels. Water levels had dropped as much as 4 feet between the years of 1997 and 2003. In May alone, water levels rose 11 inches in response to heavy rain and significant run off.