Michigan State University officials are continuing to monitor conditions along the Red Cedar River after rainfall and snowmelt raised water levels across campus over the weekend.
Earlier projections suggested the river might reach minor flood stage. While the river ultimately rose less than anticipated, several areas along the river remain affected and more rain expected today and tomorrow could cause water levels to rise again.
“It didn’t go up as high as they thought it was going to,” said Matt Bailey, Landscape Services manager with Infrastructure Planning and Facilities. “But we don’t want people to relax just yet.”
IPF crews and the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety continue to monitor rainfall and river levels while assessing conditions around campus.
Areas currently affected
Most of campus remains open, but a few locations near the Red Cedar River still have standing water or temporary closures.
According to Bailey, areas currently impacted include:
Portions of the River Walk on the north side of the Red Cedar behind the Alumni Memorial Chapel, Kresge Art Center and the Auditorium
The pedestrian walkway beneath the Farm Lane bridge
The parking lot behind the Community Music School
An area near the southwest corner of Brody Hall by Bailey Hall, which has been closed due to a sink hole caused by rain
Other areas that are likely to have standing water include Shaw Lane near IM East as well as construction zones where storm drains may drain more slowly during heavy rainfall.
“When it rains really hard, really fast, sometimes there’s water over the road there,” Bailey said. “It does drain out — it just takes a little time.”
Another round of rain could change conditions
Weather forecasts call for additional rainfall Tuesday night into Wednesday, which could push water levels higher again.
“Wednesday morning, expect to be impacted in some way by the rising river water levels due to the large amount of rain we’re supposed to get in a short time period,” Bailey said.
Officials emphasize that river conditions can change quickly. Even small increases in rainfall or debris accumulating at bridges can temporarily raise water levels.
Safety reminders
Campus officials encourage community members to remain cautious around standing water and follow posted barricades.
“If there’s more than four inches of water, don’t drive or walk through it,” Bailey said. “The depth can be deceptive, and surface water may contain bacteria.”
Officials also discourage recreational activities such as kayaking on the river during high-water periods. Spartans are also advised to keep ground-level or basement windows closed during heavy rainfall to prevent water splashing into buildings.
Flooding is a familiar challenge on campus
Flooding along the Red Cedar River is not uncommon at Michigan State. Much of campus sits within the river’s floodplain, and the university has long-established procedures for monitoring and responding to rising water levels.
“Much of campus is in a floodplain, so we’re used to this,” Bailey said. “We have protocols at every level for what’s going to be impacted and how we respond.”
Over the years, the university has experienced several major floods.
One of the most significant occurred in April 1975, when the Grand River rose above 15 feet and the Red Cedar surged more than 12 feet above normal levels. The flooding impacted buildings including Demonstration Hall, the Women’s IM Building, Jenison Field House, the Auditorium, Beal Botanical Garden and Kobs Field.
Continued monitoring
While the current situation is far less severe than those historic floods, officials say monitoring will continue throughout the week as rainfall moves through the region.
IPF crews will continue inspecting roads, walkways and drainage systems and will reopen affected areas once conditions allow.
“Once the river recedes, there’s often sediment and debris left on the walkways,” Bailey said. “It can take a little time to get everything cleaned up.”
In the meantime, campus officials urge community members to stay alert, follow posted detours and allow crews time to safely manage the situation.
