The Shakopee Valley News is launching an online map to give updates on flooding along the Minnesota River. It can be found here.

The map will include brief descriptions of water levels, road closures and other activities along the river.

County Road 9 has been closed due to flood waters covering the roadway, according to Scott County Highway Engineer Mitch Rasmussen.

The closed portion of the road is from near Highway 169 to 185th Street W. in Jordan. Rasmussen said the road will remain closed until further notice.

Major flooding is now predicted for Savage starting late tonight, said the National Weather Service office in Chanhassen.

At 11 a.m. today, the water level was 700.6 feet. The flood stage is 702.0 feet. The weather service predicts waters will rise above the flood stage by early Friday and continue to rise to near 712.4 feet by Wednesday morning, March 24.

A 35-year-old Shakopee man is accused of impersonating a police officer and sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl outside a Wisconsin mall last week.

The National Weather Service office in Chanhassen now forecasts the Minnesota River in Shakopee to reach its 708-foot flood stage by this evening.

The last measurement of the river, taken at 10 a.m. Thursday morning, had the river estimated at 707.5 feet.

After years of delays, it appears funding is in place to fix the traffic-clogged intersection of Highway 169 and Interstate 494.

The regional Transportation Advisory Board on Wednesday gave the green light in voting for a funding package that includes the final $34 million needed to make the redesign happen.

When flooding occurs in Shakopee, the impacts are as follows:

FLOODING CHART

• 708 ft. (minor flooding) : Little impact, increased probability of County Road 101 river crossing closing (levels around 710 trigger road closure)

By Shannon Fiecke, Staff Writer 

No, you read it right. Many of the census forms arriving in Shakopee mailboxes are addressed to Prior Lake.

Despite the mix-up, census officials say Shakopee residents shouldn’t worry. They will be counted correctly, even if the city listed is incorrect.

“We want to make sure people don’t throw them away,” said Shakopee Communications Coordinator Lori Cram. “Everybody’s fear is that people will see it and think it’s junk mail because it’s not the right address.”