The local river levels are dropping. The Illinois River reached its third highest crest at LaSalle and its second highest at Morris.
At LaSalle, the record is 34.4 in 2013 and the second highest is 33.8 in 2008. It reached 33.1 overnight, a full foot over last year’s 4th place highest crest. At Morris, the record is 24.9 in 2013. The river reached 24.85 yesterday, barely beating the previous second place of 24.84 in 2008.
Because of the high water, voluntary evacuations were done in Utica and Marseilles over the last few days. Illinois 351 near the river in Peru is closed. So is a mile-and-a-half stretch of Illinois 71 southwest of Ottawa. And Illinois 178 south of Utica is closed.