Flooding problems in the city are associated with both the main stem of the Minnesota River and a secondary channel that runs along the western and southern edge of the city.
Floods occur mostly in the spring from snowmelt runoff.
The flood of record occurred in April 1997 when a peak stage of 23.9 feet on the Montevideo River gage was reached. Portions of the city are protected by existing, non-Federal levees. Status A feasibility study is underway to evaluate possible solutions to the city's flood related problems. A Federal Interest Report was completed in March 1998. The Federal Interest Report concluded that the Fifteenth Ave levee reach had the best potential for being an economically justified Federal project.