By A.J. Harris
The statistics are in, and the Vermilion River’s 2019 water level was in the top 10 floods in the river’s recorded history. The official numbers from the National Weather Service say that the river crested at 17.19 feet on Friday, May 3rd–the 9th highest recorded level for the river. The river hasn’t reached that level in Livingston County since December of 2015. The river’s highest measured flooding reached 19.18 feet in January of 2008.
Flood stage for the Vermilion is 14 feet. Anything over 15 feet is considered “moderate” flooding until the river reaches the “major” flood level at 18 feet. Current river level readings are online at https://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?gage=pnti2&wfo=lot
