UPDATE: Columbus RiverWalk water level highest in 12 years, residences mostly spared, but coming rain could extend flooding

This week’s torrential rain has caused the worst flooding in more than a decade on both sides of the Chattahoochee River, and next week’s forecasted rain threatens to extend the flooding.

But as of Friday afternoon, the Columbus Consolidated Government announced that the floodwaters have so far generally spared residences and been limited to mostly streets and public lands, including the water treatment plant.

“A helicopter flyover and on-ground assessment showed no broad scale private property water encroachment,” the city said in an email.

Georgia Power’s release of excess rainwater from Lake Harding and Lake Oliver has caused designed flooding of the Chattahoochee RiverWalk and watersheds to allow water to be released from West Point Dam, the city said.

“It looks like we caught a break from the cessation of rain today and from Georgia Power’s management of water at Lake Harding, which should free up enough capacity to handle the released water coming in from West Point Dam later (Friday) evening,” Mayor Teresa Tomlinson said. “Residents are advised to stay away from the river and creeks until floodwaters recede. We continue to urge that citizens do not drive through standing water of unknown depth.”

As of Friday afternoon, the river’s flood stage was over 34 feet, down about 1 foot from its peak earlier in the day. City officials ask residents to call 911 to report any extreme flooding.

City engineer Donna Newman told the Ledger-Enquirer this is the worst flooding on the RiverWalk since 2003 – and she doesn’t expect it to recede soon.

“It will be a while,” she said. “The concern is what it will be like next week as more storms come, because the creeks already are carrying more flow than normal and the ground is so saturated.”

Local rainfall ranged from 5-9 inches in the past 24 hours, said WRBL chief meteorologist Bob Jeswald, and another few inches are forecasted Monday through Wednesday.

“We’ll have a couple of days to dry out,” he said, “but certainly not enough to alleviate any flooding.”

Oakland Park resident Owen Ditchfield has kept rainfall records since 1972. His gauge measured 10.9 inches this week.

Russell County Emergency Management put the amounts of rain in perspective with a news release:

“We cannot express enough how dangerous traveling in any amount of water is: A mere 6 inches of fast-moving floodwater can knock over an adult. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away a small car, while 2 feet of rushing water can carry away most vehicles.

“It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into floodwaters.”

Ironically, the high temperature Friday set a record for Christmas in Columbus, reaching 78 degrees and breaking the previous mark of 76 set in 1982, Jeswald said. But the folks who flocked to the RiverWalk on Christmas Day could only gawk at it instead of play on it. Where walkers, joggers and bicyclists usually exercise, visitors saw tree trunks and branches bobbing in the floodwaters.

Familiar sights were submerged: the whitewater rapids, and the island and bridge leading to them, as well as the restrooms south of them. And the light poles were noticeable only because the lanterns remained above the water.

On the Phenix City side of the river, the amphitheater and parts of the zip-line course also were submerged.

Columbus public works director Pat Biegler said she heard of only one residence being flooded among the more than 50 calls her department has received this about concerns from the rain. The others have been mostly about deep water on streets.

The few reports of flooding the Ledger-Enquirer received were on Lynch Road to the north and on Lucky Street to the south. Cooper Creek Park was also flooded. Newman and Biegler said Friday that no city streets were closed due to flooding.

Mark Rice, 706-576-6272. Follow him on Twitter@MarkRiceLE.

This story was originally published December 25, 2015 at 10:55 AM with the headline "UPDATE: Columbus RiverWalk water level highest in 12 years, residences mostly spared, but coming rain could extend flooding."