Washington County issued a notice on Thursday for an emergency meeting related to the rising Mississippi and St. Croix rivers.
The emergency meeting of the Washington County Board will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Washington County Government Center in Stillwater.
County officials will be “presenting an emergency declaration that would allow the county to support our municipalities and take necessary actions to protect public infrastructure and respond to public safety concerns,” the notice announced.
Flooding in the communities of Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park and Grey Cloud Island Township is of special concern with the rising water levels on the Mississippi River, county officials say.
Cottage Grove city officials announced the closure of the Grey Cloud Island Trail bridge to Lower Grey Cloud Island on Thursday. They said the Grey Cloud Island Drive causeway would close at noon Friday.
The Mississippi is expected to reach major flood level and crest at more than 20 feet on Sunday.
“The surging water level is presenting strong currents and large, floating debris posing danger on the waterway,” county officials said in a news release.
On Thursday, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources expanded the temporary no-wake zone on the Mississippi River to include the stretch from the Interstate 494 bridge in South St. Paul to the Dakota County/Washington County border at St. Croix River Mile Marker 1. The no-wake zone will remain in effect until the water level returns to below 15 feet, officials said.
A no-wake zone remains in effect for the entire St. Croix River.
The St. Croix is expected to crest at 688 feet, which is classified as moderate flood stage, at 7 a.m. Sunday.