Don't boat at Saylorville Lake as water levels rise, debris fills lake, officials warn

Officials from the state and Army Corps of Engineers ask people not to boat at Saylorville Lake during the Fourth of July holiday week as water levels are expected to rise more than 880 feet above sea level.

Certain areas at the lake already are closed due to flooding from recent rainfall in northern Iowa and in the Des Moines River watershed. Officials say debris from upstream where major flooding has occurred can pose an exceptional danger for people on the lake this week.

In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said it would close North Overlook and Whitebreast beaches at Red Rock Lake due to rising water levels on Wednesday. The closures will remain in place until the area is safe for use.

As of 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Saylorville was sitting at 869 feet. The Army Corps expects it to reach 882 feet by Tuesday evening, 2 feet below flood stage and about 46 feet above normal water levels.

That forecasts accounts for rain just over the next 24 hours.

Polk County Emergency Management program assistant Brett McIntyre says Saylorville Lake, which typically acts as a buffer for major rains, still has room to absorb several feet of water expected over the next few days based on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' forecast. At 882 feet, the Army Corps still has about 2 feet before water spills over the emergency spillway — the point at which the water level surpasses the ability of the dam to control the safe release of floodwater into the Des Moines River — and there's an inflatable dam that can be raised another 6 feet.

For reference, the record high pool elevation at the lake was during the historic flooding of 1993 at 892.03 feet, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ river gauge data.

"Right now, at this point, as long as they feel confident that we'll be below that level, we should be all right again,” McIntyre said of the Army Corps. "Our biggest issue right now will be kind of watching if we have any severe weather tonight or potential for heavy rain that can lead to some flash flooding here or there, but our information on Saylorville right now is we've still got room."

Recreating this holiday week could be difficult around Saylorville, Des Moines

There will be limited opportunities for those who plan on hiking, boating or biking this week because of the rising water levels, Greg Hand, Saylorville park ranger with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, said at a news conference Tuesday. The Neal Smith Trail is expected to be inundated with water, causing multiple closures, Hand said.

Lakeview High Water and Chery Glen Highwater boat ramps will be the only ramps available to the public — but they too might close if the water keeps rising, Hand said.

“There’s a lot of water coming down,” Hand said. “There’s obviously a lot of trees coming down. A lot of those trees by the river corridor are probably going down as the water rises. We’re kind of a catch basin for all the debris.”

Hand is advising the public to avoid boating at Saylorville this week.

“If you are going to boat, which I would not advise, make sure that everyone is wearing a life jacket, go slow and don’t boat after dark,” Hand said. “Being safe out there is key. With the number of debris coming down, it could be dangerous.”

Todd Robertson, river programs outreach coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, warned those who plan on boating about a significant amount of debris in the water.

Boaters on Saylorville and on the Des Moines River need to look out for strainers, which are essentially big pieces of debris such as trees that are under the water and not visible, Robertson said. There’s a chance a boater might flip out of the boat and get stuck underwater by the debris.

“It sounds scary, and it is scary, and it can be deadly,” Robertson said. “But if you know how to read the river and stay away from the strainers you won’t have any problems. Be very careful with big wood piles out on the water.”

Wearing a life jacket is essential if one plans on being in the water during the week, Robertson said.

“If you’re swimming in the river and going up against the current, it can be a different beast,” Robertson said. “It’s not like being in a lake or a swimming pool. You’ve got currents pulling you down and pushing you around. It’s absolutely important to wear a life jacket.”

Meanwhile, the Des Moines area can expect some minor impacts, including road and trail closures, by the end of the week due to some heavy rainfall over the Raccoon River Valley on Monday night, according to McIntyre. Unlike the buffer for the Des Moines River provided by Saylorville Lake, the Raccoon River Valley has no reservoir, which can mean larger flooding problems during major rains.

McIntyre said residents could see some closures including around George Flagg Parkway and Water Works Park, as well as areas near the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers' confluence in places like Water Street, Principal Park and the base of Simon Estes Amphitheater.

McIntyre says the public should steer clear of any floodwaters while driving or walking and biking on trails "no matter how shallow it looks."

Both drivers and passengers are advised: Don't drink and boat

If you do plan to boat, do not drink while driving, warned Susan Stocker, boating law administrator with the DNR.

“We want to make sure that the alcohol and boating stay separated,” Stocker said. “We always need to have a sober operator while on the water. People don’t realize that when you mix alcohol with boating, the wind, the glare and the waves enhances the effect of alcohol.”

Boat passengers also should plan to be sober while out on the water to avoid any unnecessary injuries or risks, Stocker said.

“Passengers are the ears and the eyes for the operator,” Stocker said. “There’s a lot of debris coming down. If you see a small twig above water, chances are it’s attached to the 30-foot tree below.”

José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.

Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Boating not advised at Saylorville Lake over Fourth of July week