Montevideo survives Minnesota River flood scare

Montevideo survived largely unscathed from another flood scare Tuesday, as the Minnesota River crested at six feet above flood stage.

The city had to build a temporary levee on Highway 212 as a precaution, but there was no damage to buildings in the western Minnesota community. Montevideo City Manager Steve Jones said a construction project this summer should help the city in future floods.

"This year we intend to raise Highway 212 as part of our levee system and in some spots the highway will go as high as six feet higher than it is now," Jones said. "That should be done this year."

Jones says Montevideo also plans to raise other levees in the city in future years, but that work has not yet been funded.

The Minnesota River is expected to crest downstream in Granite Falls later today at moderate flood stage. The river should peak in New Ulm at a half foot under major flood stage on Friday or Saturday. At about the same time, the Minnesota will crest in the metro area at Savage. The level there should just touch major flood stage before dropping.