Staff photo by Fritz Busch Casey Gulden of Hanska fishes the rising Minnesota River at the Riverside Park boat access Thursday. The National Weather Service issued a flood warning for minor flooding in New Ulm. The river was observed at 798.8 feet at 9 a.m. Thursday. It is forecast to rise above flood stage early Friday afternoon and reach a crest of 801.3 feet early Sunday afternoon.

NEW ULM — Undeterred by the rising Minnesota River, Casey Gulden of Hanska fished at the Riverside Park boat access Thursday.

“I caught a small walleye earlier today that I released,” he said. “Yesterday, my friend caught a 30-inch walleye here that he released.”

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a number of river flood warnings Thursday.

The Minnesota River at New Ulm was forecast to reach a crest of 801.3 feet early Sunday afternoon. The river was observed at 798.8 feet at 8:45 a.m. Thursday. Flood stage is 800 feet. At 801 feet, the 18th South Street flood gate is closed in New Ulm. The river was forecast to remain above flood stage until Thursday, Aug. 28.

Moderate flooding is occurring and is forecast for the Minnesota River at Morton. The river was observed at 24.6 feet at 9 a.m. Thursday. At 24 feet, Fleischer Road in North Redwood is closed. Storm sewers are closed off and bypass pumping begins.

The river is forecast to fall to 22.5 feet Thursday. Aug. 28. Flood stage is 21 feet. The flood warning remains in effect until former notice.

A flood warning is in effect for the Cottonwood River above Springfield until Monday, Aug. 25. The river was observed at 23.1 feet at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. The river is forecast to rise to a crest of 23.7 feet early Saturday morning, then fall below flood stage early Sunday afternoon. Flood stage is 22 feet.

A flood warning continues until further notice for the Minnesota River at Granite Falls affecting Highway 212 and the Minnesota River at Montevideo.

The river was observed in Granite Falls at 885.7 feet at 9:15 a.m. Thursday. The river was expected to rise to a crest of 885.8 feet later Thursday. Flood stage if 885 feet.

The Minnesota River was observed at 16 feet at 9 a.m. Thursday and is expected to remain steady, above flood stage until further notice. Flood stage is 14 feet. Storm sewers may need to be plugged to prevent water from backing up into streets.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) rated the Blue Earth River level very high near Winnebago (CSAH 12) and the Le Sueur River very high near Rapidan Thursday. The Blue Earth River level was rated high near Rapidan.

For more information, visit https://www.wunderground.com/severe/us/mn and https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/river_levels/index.html.