Floodwaters level off in Rock County

Rock River at Lake Koshkonong hits second-highest recorded level

NEWVILLE, Wis. — The Rock River, which has swelled for the past week, stopped rising Sunday near Lake Koshkonong, although more rain is forecasted for the area.

The river hit 12.34 feet, nearly a foot above major flood stage, virtually unchanged from the day before, according to measurements by the National Weather Service.

The water level is still three feet below the devastating record set in 2008, although the situation was still bad at Ron Langer’s house in the Town of Milton. His home was sitting on a peninsula Sunday, surrounded by water on three sides.

“You just sandbag what you can and hope for the best,” said Langer, who said neighbors, Boy Scout volunteers, and local inmates helped him fill 800 sandbags to put around his home.

Langer made the most of the situation by fishing off his patio.

Downriver, the water was just a foot from the top of the riverbank in downtown Janesville. Crews had put sandbags along parts of the Rock River.

Dry weather over the weekend contributed to the water leveling off.

But there are several chances for rain throughout the week, WISC-TV meteorologist Karin Swanson reported.

About a dozen low-lying roads remained closed throughout Rock County, as did the Happy Hallow Park south of Janesville.  

Elsewhere, the northern half of Illinois is under a state of emergency.

After a week of severe flooding, the declaration ensures state resources are made available, and notifies the federal government that a disaster declaration is a possibility.

Over the weekend, two people had to be rescued from a truck that was stranded in a flooded road in central Illinois.

And in Missouri, one person died when their vehicle was swept off flooding roads.

Missouri’s governor toured parts of the state that experienced the worst flooding.

The Mississippi River is 10 to 12 feet above flood stage, including some parts near St. Louis.