IPSWICH — Water flowing into the Ipswich River the past three days didn't raise the river level to record heights, but it is awfully high for this time of year.
The U.S. Geodesic Survey gauge at the Willowdale Dam in Ipswich was recording stream flows at 2,350 cubic feet per second yesterday — nearly eight times the normal mid-March flow.
The river height in Ipswich yesterday afternoon was measured at nearly 8 feet — 1 foot above flood stage
On May 15, 2006, the river rose as high as 10.67 feet at Willowdale during the Mother's Day storm, with 5,110 cubic feet a second — about 38,325 gallons — flowing over the dam.
The survey gauge in South Middleton was recording 1,230 cubic feet of water per minute flowing past it yesterday afternoon. Typical readings in March are about 100 cubic feet per second.
All the flow data is subject to revision after review.
The high water levels closed Asbury Street at the bridge over the Ipswich River in Topsfield, as well as East Street at Thunder Bridge in Middleton.
In Hamilton, officials have been hoping for years to get federal or state help to replace a damaged culvert on Bridge Street at the Miles River. The culvert was holding yesterday, but floodwaters were near to cresting over the road.
— Steve Landwehr
