New river gauges would give earlier flooding warnings for Decorah

Winneshiek County supervisors have agreed to spend some money helping to get new river gauges installed in Winneshiek County.

City of Decorah Water Superintendent Dave Pahlas on Monday asked the supervisors to spend $3,500 in county funds to pay for the installation of a river gauge in either Kendallville or Lime Springs.  Pahlas plans to ask Howard County officials to help finance the second river gauge.

Winneshiek County Emergency Government Director Bruce Goetsch said the gauges would provide important information.  "We try to get as much information from upstream as possible," he told supervisors.  Goetsch and Pahlas estimate that putting in a river gauge at Kendallville would give the city of Decorah six hours advance notice of any flood crest that was heading towards the city.

The river gauges would be installed in cooperation with the US Geological Service.  Pahlas says the $3,500 cost quoted by USGS was "a pretty good price."