Flood warnings issued for parts of Shoshone County

As the rain continues to pour down on Shoshone County, water levels of the local rivers are expected to rise.

The Shoshone County Sheriff's Office reports that certain residents in Shoshone and neighboring parts of Kootenai County should be on the lookout for minor flooding events.

According to the National Weather Service, intermittent rain is expected until Friday night. As a result, water levels for the Coeur d’Alene River at Cataldo are projected to rise to approximately 42.8 feet by Thursday before beginning to recede.

Based on the projections of the National Weather Service, at 42.8 feet (considered Action Flood Stage), the following areas are likely to be impacted:

•42 feet- Portions of the campground south of I-90 and Dudley Road, downstream of Cataldo, may be underwater if floodplain storage areas are already full of water.

•42.5 feet- Portions of Riverview Road between Cataldo and Kingston will be flooded.

•If the river reaches the Minor Flood Stage at 43 feet, minor flooding of farmland from Cataldo downstream to Harrison is likely. The campground at Cataldo will also begin to flood. Portions of Dudley Road, west of Latour Creek, will likely be underwater and impassable. If there is significant water already in the floodplain, these impacts may occur at lower states.

•Old Coeur d’Alene River Road on the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River may begin to flood North of the Bumblebee Bridge.

For Shoshone County citizens residing near the St. Joe River in the area of Calder, water levels are currently between 10 and 11 feet; however, the river is projected to reach the Action Flood Stage of 12 feet between today and tomorrow. Based on the projections of the National Weather Service, at 12 feet (considered Action Flood Stage), the following areas are likely to be impacted:

•10 feet- Water may cover the low spots on Calder Road between the St. Joe River Road and he Calder Bridge.

•If the river reaches 13 feet, Bear Creek will begin to back up from the St. Joe River and may start to spill into the town of Calder, flooding the low spots in the yards, roads, and parking lots.

With Memorial Day weekend convening in just a few short days, the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone to be mindful of the high water as it is unpredictable, strong, fast and unforgiving.

Stay safe and take care of each other.