High water at Island MetroPark closes East Helena Street bridge

The East Helena Street bridge to Island MetroPark is closed and "High Water" warning signs have been placed along Riverside Drive at East Helena because of flooding.

Riverside Drive is passable, but vehicles passing through were kicking up water late Wednesday afternoon. A Dayton street maintenance crew installed the signage about 5:30 p.m.

The park is in the flood plain and flooding will occur in the area maybe once year, said Sgt. Eric Lane, FiveRivers MetroParks Ranger Division.

Flooding at Island MetroPark is "not super uncommon," he said.

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SEE: WHIO Doppler 7 Interactive Radar

The park is at the confluence of the Stillwater and the Great Miami River, just north of the Island Park Reservoir.

According to the Miami Conservancy District, the Stillwater River above Englewood was at nearly 43 feet at 9 p.m. and is projected to crest at 45.4 feet (flood stage is 58 feet). The Great Miami River near Taylorsville was at 25 feet -- enough to confirm minor flooding (flood stage is 22 feet) at 9 p.m. The district forecast is for minor flooding to continue into Thursday.

According to the district tabulations, the Great Miami River at the city of Dayton is currently about 7 feet above normal for this time of year.

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