In other words, the levee is lower than they thought.

In a statement Friday, “The results of the survey show that at several locations along the levee, only 2.1 to 2.3 feet of freeboard ( the amount of a levee not underwater) remained. The data was collected from 0800 to 1300 hours on 08 July, 2011. During that time the stages recorded by the USGS St. Joseph gauge located on the railroad bridge fluctuated between 29.3 and 29.4 feet. If the Missouri River were to rise another 2.1 feet to a stage of 31.5 feet, we believe the levee would just begin to overtop. We recommend the predicted overtopping stage be set at 31.5 feet (emphasis by City). Note that this (year’s) event has resulted in the highest measureable water surface elevations on the levee since the 1993 flood. This has presented a unique opportunity to evaluate and field verify the overtopping stage related to the St. Joseph gauge.”

During the first days of July when water was very high against the levee, the Corps look at the levee knows as R471-460. That stands for the mile markers on the river for the levee.

The news release sgtates the levee protects a key part of the St. Joseph region, “Buchanan and Doniphan counties, parts of the cities of Elwood and Wathena, along with Rosecrans Memorial Airport and the MoANG base.