ST. LOUIS — The Mississippi River continues to rise on the Chester gage.
The reading was 25.48 almost a foot and a half below the 27 foot flood stage.
That mark was expected to be reached this morning.
The river is expected to continue rising to a crest of 34.5 feet Friday afternoon.
River Stage……………Impact
25 Degognia Fountain Bluff Levee gates are closed.
27 Flood Stage. Unprotected farmland on right bank begins to flood.
28 Unleveed islands near Chester and the prison farm floods.
31.5 In Perry County, Highway E is closed between County Road 322 and Levee Road (County Road 354) at Bois Brule Creek.
32.5 The Road at Fort Gage Farm begins flooding at Menard Correctional Center.
33 Within a foot of this height, Highway A is closed between County Roads 448 and 460 at Wittenberg in southern Perry County.
33.5 Water Street in Chester begins flooding.
34.4 Crest Friday.
The following stages are provided in case the river rises above the crest which was forecast on Monday.
34.7 The north parking lot at Menard Correctional Center begins flooding.
34.79 Kaskaskia Street near the Menard Prison begins flooding near this height.
35 Ste. Genevieve flood gates are closed at this level.
35.2 In Perry County, Highway C is closed between County Roads 352 and 354 (the Levee Road) near Menfro.
36 Chester water works pumphouse is threatened by flood waters. Highway 61 is closed at the bend at St. Marys and a detour is set up through town. Near this height, St. Genevieve County levee #2 is overtopped. This levee protects 7000 acres.
36.5 Chester water intake house is flooded… damage begins to occur to 4 homes and administration buildings at Menard State Prison. Prairie DuRocher pump station damaged and road to Kaskaskia Lock inundated.
36.9 Near this height, U.S. Highway 61 is closed from Route J to St. Mary.
37 Union Pacific property along Water Street begins to flood.
37.2 Near this height, U.S. Highway 61 is closed between Ste. Genevieve and Route J.
37.5 The southbound lane on Kaskaskia Street and the south parking lot at Menard Correctional Center begins flooding.
37.6 At this height, Missouri Route M between Route H and Perry County Road 924 is closed.
37.7 Near this height, Route J is closed in both directions at U.S. Highway 61.
38.1 Near this level, Illinois Route 3 near the Mary’s River bridge is closed.
38.4 At this level IL Route 3 at levee east of Cora inundated.
38.5 Illinois Route 3 at Rockwood and Missouri Highway J just west of Highway 61 between Ste. Genevieve and St. Marys begin flooding near this height.
38.7 Illinois State Highway 155 at Prairie du Rocher begins flooding near this height.
39 Railroad tracks in St. Mary, Missouri begin flooding.
40 A hunting lodge near the mouth of the Kaskaskia River begins flooding.
40.79 Main Street in Evansville inundated.
41.1 Near this height, Missouri Route V southeast of Bloomsdale is closed between Highway 61 and North White Sands Road.
42 Four cottage units at the Menard Correctional Center begin flooding near this height.
42.3 Near this height, Missouri State Route U will be closed in both directions from U.S. Highway 61 to the Illinois State line at the Kaskaskia Island bridge.
42.4 Near this height, Missouri Route H is closed between Route M and Missouri Highway 51
44 At this height, Missouri State Highway 51 is closed from Perry County Road 944 and the Illinois State Line at the bridge into Chester.
45 At this height, the Chester waterworks pumphouse floods.
45.1 Near this height, Missouri Route M is closed in both directions at River Aux Vases.
45.5 Near this height, Missouri Route H will be closed in both directions from U.S. Highway 61 to Route M.
47.5 The former Con Agra Mill in Chester begins flooding near this height.
49 Degognia and Fountain Bluff Levee overtopped.
49.4 Stringtown and Prairie DuRocher levees overtopped.
49.5 Near this height, the Bois Brule, Degognia, and Fountain Bluff levees are overtopped.The Bois Brule levee protects 26,060 acres. The Degognia and Fountain Bluff levees protect 36,200 acres.
50 Ste. Genevieve, Ft. Chartres, Ivy Landing, and Kaskaskia Island levees overtopped.
51 The Health Care Unit of the Menard Correctional Center begins flooding near this height. Also at this height, the Grand Tower levee is overtopped. This levee protects 14,800 acres.
53 Near this height, the Ste. Genevieve County levee #3 is overtopped.
It is now expected to fall below flood stage Monday morning.
The rising water has claimed its first casualty, the Ste. Genevieve Modoc Ferry suspended service last night due to the high water.