Staff photo by Fritz Busch Three individuals pull away from a public water access near the Beussman Bridge north of New Ulm in a fishing boat Wednesday. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued flood warnings effective Wednesday to 1 a.m. Sunday, June 23 for the Cottonwood and Minnesota Rivers at New Ulm, Cottonwood River at Springfield, Minnesota River at Morton.

NEW ULM — Much of the Minnesota River public water access near the Beussman Bridge north of New Ulm was underwater Wednesday.

At noon Wednesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued flood warnings for the Cottonwood and Minnesota Rivers at New Ulm, Cottonwood River at Springfield, Minnesota River at Morton and the Minnesota River at Mankato.

The Minnesota River at New Ulm was measured at 799.76 feet at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday. Water begins to impact floodplain access roads at 795 feet. Water impacts park land and Minnecon boat launch access road is closed at 796 feet.

The river is forecast to crest at 800.50 feet at 7 a.m. Friday. Minor flooding occurs at 800 feet.

The forecast does not include the possibility of more rain falling in the area Thursday night through Friday night.

“Two to four more inches of rain is possible for New Ulm. It’ll set up somewhere in south central Minnesota,” said NWS Chanhassen Meteorologist Melissa Dye.

“River flood warnings will continue. They’ll dip slightly, then go right back up again with more rain,” she added.

Dye said the NWS reported 3.79 inches of rain 3 miles west of New Ulm since Saturday. Glencoe reported 6.21 inches, Brownton 5.68, Green Isle 4.78, Gibbon 4.74, Hanska 2.82, Redwood Falls 2.71 and Arlington 2.3 inches.

Some weather observers posted more than seven inches of rainfall last weekend north and east of Fairfax.

The Cottonwood River level at New Ulm was measured at 12.14 feet Wednesday afternoon. Minor flooding occurs at 11 feet, moderate flooding at 13 feet.

The Cottonwood River level above Springfield was measured at 23.93 feet Wednesday. Minor flooding occurs at 22 feet. Moderate flooding occurs at 27 feet.

The NWS river flood warning includes the Minnesota River at Morton, Henderson and State Highway 19 and at Mankato. State Highway 19 was closed east of Henderson Wednesday noon due to Minnesota River flooding. Traffic is detoured to Highway 19 west of Henderson, Sibley County Road 17 (391st Ave). Sibley CR 8 (336th Street) and Highway 169. Motorists should monitor www.511mn.org for current road and detour information.