Major to record flooding occurred during the month of June 2008 with most forecast points above flood stage for the majority of the month. The flooding during this month was more prolific and severe than the flooding in April 2008, and the flooding in April had been the most prolific flood event since 1997.
While some locations were still experiencing flooding as June began, many of the tributary rivers to the Mississippi in Iowa rose above flood stage during the first few days of the month. At locations that were already above flood stage, the rivers stopped their fall and began climbing again.
Persistent heavy rain from late May into early June resulted in record crests on the Cedar and Iowa Rivers in Iowa as well as other tributary rivers to the Mississippi River in eastern Iowa and southern Wisconsin. This resulted in record flooding on parts of the Mississippi River, even exceeding flood levels reached during the Great Flood of 1993 in some locations.
Both the Mississippi River and the Rock River rose above flood stage at most locations around June 10th. Most locations on the tributary rivers and the Mississippi River fell below flood stage during the last two-thirds of the month.
The Cedar, Iowa and Mississippi Rivers were hardest hit by this flooding. (The Mississippi River was most affected downstream of New Boston Lock and Dam 17.) All forecast points on the Cedar and Iowa Rivers saw record crests during the month. Three locations on the Mississippi River downstream of New Boston Lock and Dam 17 saw record crests. In some locations, the new record crests were considerably higher than the previous record crests. The most significant example was the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids, IA. The crest during this event was 31.12 ft set on 6/13/2008. The previous record crest was 20.00 feet set on 6/1/1851.
The crest on the Cedar River became increasingly higher as it moved through the eastern IA from Waterloo, IA because of additional rainfall. Additional heavy rainfall occurred between when the crest left the Waterloo area and when it arrived in the Cedar Rapids area. In addition, heavy rainfall led to flash flooding when the Cedar River crest reached Cedar Rapids. Unprecedented flooding occurred at many locations along the Cedar River, including the cities of Vinton and Cedar Rapids. According to the Cedar Rapids media, very preliminary damage estimates from this flood are estimated to be at least $750 million in that area alone. The damage estimate may go much higher.
On the Iowa River, water flowed over the spillway at the Corps of Engineer���s Coralville Reservoir for only the third time since the reservoir began operation on September 17, 1958. (The other two times occurred during the Great Flood of 1993.) Unprecedented flooding occurred downstream of Coralville Reservoir including the cities of Iowa City and Coralville. The University of Iowa sustained serious damage in Iowa City due to the flooding. The latest damage estimate from the University of Iowa is $230 million which is much higher than the $6 million in damages that occurred during the Great Flood of 1993.
Many roads in eastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois sustained severe damage from the flooding. The flooding also forced the closure of many roads including I-80, I-380 and US 34. On I-80, flood waters from the Cedar River flowed over the interstate resulting in its closure between interchanges #265 and #267. This location is between Iowa City, IA and Davenport, IA. The detour route was designated as US 61 to US 20 to I-35. This detour added 115 miles to the normal route.
In addition, flooding from Coralville Lake resulted in the closure of I-380 between interchanges #4 and #10. This location is between Cedar Rapids, IA and Iowa City, IA. The detour route for I-380 was designated as I-80 to I-35 to US 20 to I-380. This detour added 272 miles to the normal route.
As the record flooding pushed downstream on the Cedar and Iowa Rivers, it continued bringing unprecedented impacts to many locations along those rivers. Several levee breaches occurred on the Iowa River (below Columbus Junction, IA) and the Mississippi River (below New Boston IL LD17). A levee breach on the Mississippi River affected the Burlington, IA area. A levee breach on the Illinois side of the river resulted in the flooding of Gulfport, IL and the closure of the US Hwy 34 bridge.

Flood in CLARK, MISSOURI
From 01-JUN-08 00:00:00 to 30-JUN-08 23:59:00 (CST-6)
Location: ALEXANDRIA
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager