KNOXVILLE, Iowa — Two beaches at Lake Red Rock are closed as of Wednesday, July 3 as water levels continue to rise, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District announced.
North Overlook Beach in Pella and Whitebreast Beach in Knoxville are both closed until swim lines can be reestablished.
Boat ramps remain accessible for the time being, the Corps of Engineers said on Facebook.
As of Wednesday morning, Lake Red Rock has risen to 743.69 feet, an increase of 1.61 feet in just 24 hours. The Lake Red Rock forecast projects the lake will reach around 762 feet on July 13.
"It basically just comes down to a safety factor of being able to maintain a safe swimming area," U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lake Red Rock manager Brian Nail explained as to why they decided to close the beaches.
Nail added Thursday will be the first time in the past five years the lake's beaches will be closed for the July 4th holiday.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said once it "can maintain a safe swimming area," the beaches will reopen, but that official date is to be determined (especially since the lake crest doesn't occur until around July 15.)
Lake Red Rock is among many other bodies of water in Iowa affected by recent heavy rainfall. In the Des Moines metro, Saylorville Lake picked up two feet of water in a single day.
Lake Red Rock's record high water level occurred during the Floods of 1993, when the reservoir's elevation stood at 782.67 feet. More recently, in July of 2010, the lake recorded a stage of 778.81 feet.
For more information about current water levels, call the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Red Rock at 641-828-7522 or email lakeredrock@usace.army.mil.
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