Recent Rains Swell North Branch Clinton River to 12 Feet in Some Areas
A U.S. Geological Survey measurement taken just before 3 p.m. Thursday showed water levels between 9.75 feet and 12.56 feet from where the river passes Moravian in Clinton Township to downtown Mount Clemens.
Recent rains have caused the Clinton River to swell just shy of 10 feet where it crosses Moravian, and while this is about 6 feet under flood stage, it is one of the higher January levels in recent years, according to the National Weather Service. A U.S. Geological Survey measurement taken just before 3 p.m. Thursday showed water levels at 9.75 feet where the river crosses Moravian Road. Closer to Mount Clemens, the water level was pushing 12.56 feet at about the same time. The torrential downpours of recent days are primarily responsible for the rising water levels, but frozen soil, which has prevented absorption, has caused mini lakes to form all across the county. Between Jan. 29 and Jan. 31, the Clinton River near Mount Clemens …
Brian Hadfield
1:18 pm on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Are you sure about the 66-year history? Flood stage for the North Branch is 15 feet (http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=dtx&gage=mclm4), which it has exceeded numerous times in recent history: (1) 20.34 ft on 05/24/2004 (2) 20.00 ft on 04/05/1947 (3) 18.62 ft on 02/02/1968 (4) 18.48 ft on 04/20/1975 (5) 17.70 ft on 02/10/2001 more ›