City updates ‘great progress’ on flood response as roads reopen

The sun and warm, dry weather is helping the city of Sioux Falls recover from last week’s flooding.

In a statement, the city said crews are making “great progress in multiple areas.”

The Big Sioux River and Skunk Creek have crested in the Sioux Falls area, allowing water levels to also come down.

Crews have been able to reopen most major streets throughout the city including:

12th Street at La Mesa Avenue

41st Street at Louise Avenue

49th Street between Louise Avenue and Kiwanis Avenue

Crews will continue to open roads as it becomes safe to do so, the city said. Check siouxfalls.gov/flood for up-to-date information on road closures as progress is made.

“The amount of rain Sioux Falls received in such a short amount of time continues to stress the city’s storm drainage and wastewater collection and treatment systems, but they are beginning to slowly catch up,” the city said. “Pumps are still operating in areas needed to clear out the local storm drainage systems.”

Because the wastewater collection and treatment system is trending in the right direction, the city is no longer asking residents to conserve their wastewater usage. As of 11:30 a.m. Sunday, pumps that were discharging untreated wastewater to the river have all been turned off.

“We appreciate the community’s willingness to do their part and conserve their wastewater usage the last 36 hours. The One Sioux Falls response has been amazing to experience and has made a difference,” said Mark Cotter, director of public works. “Our wastewater collection and treatment systems remain strained, but they are back to a point where we believe it is manageable.”

Community members who are cleaning up water damage from this flash flooding event are asked to bring carpeting, furniture, or other items that need to be disposed of to the Sioux Falls Regional Sanitary Landfill. The landfill is closed on Sundays but open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents receive one free annual pass to the landfill to dispose of items for free.

Although the water is starting to recede in various parks that were closed because of the flash flooding, they will remain closed. This means the barricades should not be moved, and the parks are closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic. It is not safe for people to be in the parks until our teams have had the opportunity to make an assessment of the damage. For those who choose to visit Falls Park, visitors should avoid the water, not climb on wet rocks, and follow posted safety signs at the park. The Caille Branch library will reopen Sunday at 1 p.m. after remaining closed Saturday due to flooding on 49th Street.

On Monday, the remaining area attractions that had been closed reopened. Wild Water West opened following what it called “extreme flooding” and a need to get rid of standing water, get the pool decks back in order and restore correct chemical levels.

The Butterfly House & Aquarium also reopened, as did the splash pad at the Great Plains Zoo.

Other roads, parks, and sections of the recreation trail remain closed. Click here for the latest information.

Statewide, there are broader impacts from the flooding including closures south of Sioux Falls such as portions of Interstate 29. Click here for the latest information on those.

Flooding fallout: Water restrictions, closures and other updates