Torrential rains topping 5 inches in some Cook County locations inundated the municipal parking lot in downtown Grand Marais July 18, 2013. Although several vehicles parked in the lot were stranded until the water receded later in the evening, the high waters did not deter determined shoppers and thrill-seekers from making their rounds. Fortunately, the newly remodeled Whole Foods Co-op building was designed to withstand the occasional flooding and remained open to customers throughout the day.
Heavy rain fell in the early afternoon of Thursday, July 18, creating flash floods throughout the county. Damage was spread throughout the county with washed out driveways and flooded basements. Unfortunately it was just the beginning. Another downpour hit just after midnight, wreaking more havoc in the early hours of Friday, flooding county roads and Highway 61 with water and debris.
Calls came in to Cook County Law Enforcement fast and furious on Thursday with reports of overflowing ditches and standing water. At 2:38 p.m. a caller reported that the ditch on Creechville Road in Grand Marais was overflowing. Just a few hours later, a caller reported that the alleyway by North Broadway had washed out. In Tofte, there was standing water by the Tofte Homestead Road as that creek flooded its banks. Another caller reported water coming perilously close to the highway at the Rock Cut. There was also water flooding over Highway 61 near Taconite Harbor Energy Center.
One of the areas of Highway 61 hardest hit by the on-again-off-again rains of July 18 and 19 was near Cascade Lodge and Restaurant in Lutsen. The little creek to the west of the restaurant turned into a rapidly flowing river almost obliterating the restaurant parking lot. A crew from Edwin E. Thoreson Inc. was able to make repairs the next day and it was business as usual for the lodge.
The Grand Marais municipal parking lot, by the Cook County Whole Foods Co-op and Stone Harbor, notorious for flooding, once again became a small lake. Local kids had a blast splashing in the water, but visitors whose cars were trapped in the standing water were aghast. Pictures of the flooded parking lot and the stand-up paddler floating up to the flooded businesses were sent to media outlets all around the region.
Co-op building built to withstand flooding
Fortunately, the newly reconstructed Whole Foods Co-op weathered the storm just fine. Reached a few days after the water had receded, Co-op General Manager Jennifer Stoltz said the co-op building fared well. “It was built to withstand floods,” said Stoltz, “so there was no damage whatsoever.”
Stoltz said some finishing work is being done at the back of the building by the loading dock, so some of the loose gravel was disturbed, but Stoltz said it was not significant. The co-op was able to accept a food delivery and it never closed its doors. The main disruption was employees having to quickly move their cars out of the flooding lot.
“Flood or not, we’re open!” said Stoltz.
Library once again has leaks
The Grand Marais Public Library once again had problems with flooding, but it did not have to close its doors. Water leaked in where the wall and floor meet, soaking the carpet about six feet into the library.
Library Director Linda Chappell said the library borrowed an extractor and floor-drying fans from School District 166 and had the water cleaned up quickly. However, Chappell said the library board is looking for a resolution to the problem, which is in the older section of the building.
Chappell said the library board has talked to contractors about what is needed—a better gutter system, re-grading the slope behind the library or excavating and putting in a better drainage system. “The board is working on a plan to keep it from happening again.”
But in the meantime, the library managed to stay open. “We’re here! Come and see us,” said Chappell.
Cascade Lodge carries on through flash flood
One local business that managed to keep operations going despite significant damage was Cascade Lodge and Restaurant. The first rainfall early Thursday turned the little creek to the west of the restaurant into a rapidly flowing river. But the rain slowed and lodge owners Michael and Maureen O’Phelan thought they had seen the worst of the storm.
That was not the case, however, and when the rains hit around midnight, as it did in the 1999 blow down storm, the little creek was overwhelmed with rushing water. O’Phelan said, “In a nutshell, it overflowed about 1,000 feet. It turned our ski trails and road into a creek. There was about a foot of water flowing across Highway 61. It washed away most of our restaurant parking lot.”
Cascade Lodge managed to stay open, serving breakfast as planned despite the devastated parking area and road. O’Phelan said, “Thank God for Thoreson’s—they were out here first thing in the morning on Friday.”
It’s the busiest time of the year for the lodge, so only the bare minimum can be done at this time. O’Phelan said he isn’t sure if the little stone bridge between the lodge and the restaurant will remain. He said in discussion with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Cascade section of Highway 61 is slated for repair next year. O’Phelan said the little bridge may be taken out at that time. “Truthfully, we are just too busy to deal with this now. We are focusing on taking care of our guests. We’re functioning well. You’d hardly know there was a problem now,” said O’Phelan.
Road repairs to continue
Minnesota Department of Transportation and County Highway Department workers will be busy for some time repairing all the washed out areas. County Highway Department Maintenance Supervisor Russell Klegstad said crews made quick repairs of the hazardous areas, but some areas with minor damage will have to wait. Klegstad said calcium chloride has arrived and county highway crews are busy applying that to the county’s gravel roads to keep dust down for motorists.
“There wasn’t really any major damage,” said Klegstad. “We did some emergency repairs and we’ll be working on the other stuff as we go along.”
MN/DOT spokesperson Pat Huston said much the same regarding Highway 61. He said at one point during the on-again-off-again rains there were eight locations that had water flooding over the roadway. However, Huston said there was nothing “catastrophic” and emergency repairs had been made.
“All of the highway is open and unimpeded,” said Huston.
However, Huston added, there is a lot of work to do, such as ditching, cleaning out ditches and filling washed out spots. Crews will have to add that work to the already-busy summer schedule. At press time the MN/ DOT crew was working in the Grand Portage area.
Huston reminded drivers to be cautious when pulling off the roadway until all of the shoulders are repaired. He also asked motorists to be aware of road crews working on the damaged areas. “Use caution; there may be times when they are working and roads are narrow.”
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