More High water photos

[BilletHead]

          While Watching the river gauges today I noticed quite a spike in the two gauges below Stockton Dam. There is one creek that dumps not to far below the lake. Not sure if this is the culprit or maybe There was a generation release or they cracked the gates some. So we decided to drive over to Caplinger Mills and take a look. Highest I have ever seen it. Way over the mill dam. You can just barely see a sign of turbulence where the water crosses the dam itself. The Park on the east side of the river above the mill dam is underwater. There is a sign on one side of the river where there is depth marks below it. The marks are way below the sign. 

I Walked out a few feet on the bridge to shoot the pictures. It was scary to say the least. If you have ever fished below the bridge and seen the decayed concrete filled bridge pilings you would feel the same. Funny 38 years ago Mrs. BilletHead and I the first Winter after we were married we drove across that bridge in my 67 mustang. Soon after that the bridge was condemned.

BilletHead

BilleHead

 

[Deadstream]

So you are blaming it on the Mustang ?   

[BilletHead]

    Ha!

 Real neat when you could drive across the bridge. The think would creak and groan and the old boards rattled. The fishermen on the bridge would hold on to the railings and turn white as you went by. Come to think of it I did too when a vehicle passed. I as others in my youth have stood on the pillars outside of the railings with one foot hooked over the bottom rail and shot carp and gar with bows. Tons of fish have been caught there and hoisted up from the water. Larger fish by lowering a basket on a rope and pulled up. Oh the things I have witnessed over there over the years. Arguments , fights, and who could be there the earliest to get the best spots for the water conditions. People from all walks of life. Clean proper folks respecting the river to those who leave trash, cut shad left to rot on the bridge. Those who catch a rough fish that stomp them to death to either leave them for all to see or just kick them back into the water dead. Those who keep sub legal bass and Walleye and scurry off like a thief in the night but for one of those there were dozens who do the right thing.

  For anyone that has not seen the place it is nice to visit. Wish I knew more of the history of the old mill. I once worked with a guy that as a boy would make the trip for a day with a wagon of grain with his father to get the grain ground, spend the night and return home the next day.

BilletHead

[Walleyedmike]

Incredible pics BilletHead! I showed my wife and she couldn't believe that was Caplinger. I'll bet it was nerve racking walking on that old bridge during water that high. You all be careful down there that high water is dangerous. The storm is gonna be in my neck of the woods early this morning in the form of a blizzard. I'm not looking forward to that!

WM

 

[Al Agnew]

The gauge for the Niangua at Tunnel Dam maxed out at midnight, 18 or so feet above normal.  The Gasconade at Hazelgreen is more than 30 feet above normal and within 2 feet of maxing out that gauge!  Middle Meramec is up more than 20 feet.  It's still raining hard here in eastern MO and every creek and river is still rising at this point.

[BilletHead]

15 hours ago, Walleyedmike said:

Incredible pics BilletHead! I showed my wife and she couldn't believe that was Caplinger. I'll bet it was nerve racking walking on that old bridge during water that high. You all be careful down there that high water is dangerous. The storm is gonna be in my neck of the woods early this morning in the form of a blizzard. I'm not looking forward to that!

WM

 

      Wm,

Yes I know the dangers of that place. Again the things I have seen down there. A lapse of judgment by one young man cost him his life. He thought he could ride a raft over the dam. Mrs. BilletHead and I were in a boat directly below. We tried a rescue only for the two of us to lift his lifeless body into our boat and take him to shore. I tried CPR to no avail. So far this has been the most  traumatic or should I say the worst thing I have ever had to do.

BilletHead

[BilletHead]

     Had to take another gander at the river this morning. Forum member and friend RichMack went with me. First three photos are along 54 Highway. Here is a field across from Venter Bluff. Right next to the road. I have been through that gate many times down through a pasture to farm fields and the river hunting points (arrowheads).

Then the 54 bridge with the Sac below it,

Here is a view from the bridge. RichMack is peeking over to see if there is a sign of a big drift that has been hung up on the pier. The sheer volume of water going under. If it was me peering over I think I would of got dizzy and barfed

  Then off on a side highway we ran upon this sight. This is why they say don't try to drive through high water. After snapping the photo a lady in a truck stopped and looked in the door seeing how much water damage. She said they got the people out last night and they had a child with them,

 Then in a field. Having a hard time figuring this one out. Maybe tractor broke down? Truck tried to pull tractor home before the high water and truck got stuck? Who knows but bummer for the owners. You have to try,

     Then to a boat ramp on the Sac River. Outhouse top showing

And finally we tried to get to the town of Blackjack. Tried three roads and this was the closest we got. The little community is inaccessible by road right now. The river bridge according to the USGS site has crested at 30.83 feet and according to the record it was 30.95 feet. Almost a record. It is on the fall now again according to USGS gauges along the river,

BilletHead

[snagged in outlet 3]

This is a shot of our fabrication yard.

We are directly below Lake St Louis and they are telling us we might have to evacuate becasue the Lake St Louis dam might fail.

We've never had water up to the building before.

Lucky the steel pipe weighs enough not to get blown out.

[BilletHead]

  Dang Snagged,

I like this but really don't an oxymoron for ya, be safe everyone,

BilletHead

[Al Agnew]

Looks like the lower Buffalo River is cresting right now at about 47 feet above normal and 125,000 cubic feet per second.  Middle Buffalo at St. Joe crested at about 43 feet above normal.  Kings River is at over 40 feet above normal.  Middlle Meramec is leveling off at 25 feet above normal.  Bourbeuse at Union is 25 feet above normal and still rising.  Big River at Irondale is still rising at 22 feet above normal, and that's on the upper end, so the lower portions still have a way to go, but the river at Merrill Horse access is already 25 feet above normal.

The James at Galena crested at more than 30 feet above normal.  Jacks Fork at the Hwy. 17 bridge crested a bit ago at about 20 feet above normal...and somebody from the geological survey measured height and discharge earlier today (and the measured height and discharge were almost exactly what the gauge reporting was showing.