Missouri River Crests, Backs Up to Chesterfield Valley Levee

After a warning from some city officials to expect it, on Monday the flood waters  from the Missouri River inched up to the levee protecting the bustling commercial developments of Chesterfield Valley. 

Photos from on top of the levee on the west end of the valley near Rombach Farms showed a shallow brownish pond pooled against it with the new St. Louis Premium Outlets visible in the distance. The flooding follows last week's storms and heavy rains that pushed the river up to eight feet above flood stage. 

On Saturday, the city of Chesterfield sent a notice announcing they had initiated their flood watch/warning system. It said they expected the smaller agriculture levee closer to the river to be overtopped, prompting some water to be visible in the flood plain north of the main levee. 

Forecasts by the National Weather Service predict that water levels would crest on Monday and begin receding on Tuesday. 

Marcia Rombach, owner of Rombach Farms, told Patch Monday that the wet spring has made it difficult to plant. Fans of the famed pumpkin patch need not fret yet, as Marcia said those won't go in for several more weeks. 

This July marks the 20th anniversary of the great flood of 1993, when the levee failed and water rushed into Chesterfield Valley, completely covering the area.