Flood Watch 2010

[AivarRuukel]

It is not an underwater bridge, it is a floating bridge, see picture.

[AivarRuukel]

It is not an underwater bridge, it is a floating bridge, see picture.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/soomaa/4487709904/

[AivarRuukel]

Video from our mission to get the cam back.

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[visitor]

Video from our mission to get the cam back.

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Lol, it's like in Venice.

Thank you for the great idea and all the work, it's really interesting to watch the flood.

[Jo UK]

Thank you Aivar. Those videos are really interesting. It's great to watch the dugout gradually changing shape.

[AivarRuukel]

Here is a view from kitchen. But as we have electricity (webcam needs it too) so I cooked a cup off coffe as well this morning (yesterday). Today there is about 15 cm more water.

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[Jo UK]

I am speechless! I suppose it happens to you every year and you know how to prepare for it, but it was a bit of a surprise to see a boat coming through the doorway into your hall!!

[Kuremari]

the waterlevel is reaching the green mark!
this is going to be a big flooding?!

[Liis]

Here is a transcript & translation of the Estonian TV news video from April 2 that Juta referred to earlier.

Estonian TV (ERR) video fron Soomaa floods, 02.04.10
ERR announcer: In Soomaa the floods are approaching their maximum. Compared to summer, the water level is about 4 m higher, a record for the last 10 years. The floods attract thousands of tourists.

Reporter: These floods are a regular phenomenon in Soomaa; because of the thick snow cover, actually even more water has been expected. This year’s first canoe hikers went off from what is usually a grazing field for cattle. There are tourist paths, trails and also regulations for the area, so there is no fear that the tourists would damage the nature.

Aivar Ruukel: Not much snow is really needed to get a meltwater flood in Soomaa. But even when there is more water, it isn’t really catastrophic, nature regulates itself.

Reporter: With an ordinary car it is now only possible to get through to the Soomaa visitors’ centre from the Viljandi direction. From Pärnu there are more than 60 centimetres of water on the road in places. Hike arrangers have to bring their customers in by canoe.

(Canoe paddler shouting happily – Here we go to fetch them) (1min 10s)

Reporter: Each spring there is a parade of off-road vehicles in Soomaa. You have to have understanding for these drivers too.

Aivar Ruukel: Well, of course one wants to see how one’s 4-wheeled friend manages and holds up in all kinds of conditions, and how you have to handle it. There are some who are very much against it, but these people have to be somewhere to test their cars too

Reporter: Soomaa is in the newspapers, on Internet, on TV, everywhere. And the publicity draws people here, to see it all with their own eyes. The rules for the national park set strict limits, so that people’s wish for adventures won’t harm nature, there are paths and trails. Recently Soomaa joined PAN Parks, the international group of protected European wilderness areas. This also provides protection. And nature here protects itself.

Rait Parts: Soomaa is actually easy to protect, and it protects itself. The rivers and bogs put up barriers . The network of paths, trails, viewing towers developed over the years is another thing that preserves the nature.…

Reporter: Still, most of all those treat nature with respect are truly welcome to Soomaa.

Aivar Ruukel: If people like a place, if you take it to heart , you treat it with care.

Reporter: About 45 000 tourists visit Soomaa each year. Dachshound Mutter is already eagerly waiting.

PS. Not done word-by-word. Please post correction if anyone or anything feels misrepresented ….

[juta]

Thank you Liis, very much for the translation!

[lutra]

I am speechless! I suppose it happens to you every year and you know how to prepare for it, but it was a bit of a surprise to see a boat coming through the doorway into your hall!!

Such high flooding is not wery common. Truly even the flood is not happening every year - there have been winters with almost no snow and then usually the rivers are simply "full", not flooded. Some years there have been 3-4 floods per year - also a big rainfall in spring or autumn or even in summer can cause flooding. This year the water level is 50-100 cm higher than usually and is getting close to its maximums. The house on video is usually dry.

[AivarRuukel]

I am speechless! I suppose it happens to you every year and you know how to prepare for it, but it was a bit of a surprise to see a boat coming through the doorway into your hall!!

@ Jo UK... no such high flood is exeptional, last time it was at this hight in 1950-ies, and I am only 43 :)

I do not live permanently in the house, but run it as a basecamp for my river trips and bog walking excursions.

[Kuremari]

the water has reached the green mark! how bad is it actually?
as far i understand - the flood is bigger than average

[AivarRuukel]

[quote="Kuremari"]the water has reached the green mark! how bad is it actually?
as far i understand - the flood is bigger than average

@kuremari Last time such (or even a little higher) flood was in 1951 and 1956. So, it certainly is bigger then average.

It is not too bad, depending on viewpoint, for meadows it is actually good, that is the way they get fertized.

[Jo UK]

It's really good that you have managed to get this webcam on the internet for us all to see and understand. How did you manage it? Is it something you have been wrking towards for some time, or was it a "spur of the monent" idea, whose time had come?

[Jo UK]

Good morning. Water has risen overnight. Now the green sign has almost disappeared.

[Jo UK]

Two hours later now

[Liis]

According to http://www.soomaa.com/ highest water levels during the last 100 years at Riisa have been in 1931 (553 cm), 1951 (520 cm), 1956 (516 cm), 1932 (488 cm), 1926 (579 cm).
The slowly drowning green band on the tree shows (showed? ) the 1956 level.

[Jo UK]

Slowly drowning - I think the last hint of green is submerged now! Can you see any remaining?

[Liis]

Slowly drowning - I think the last hint of green is submerged now! Can you see any remaining?

Barely, maybe - not the green band itself, but possibly the touches of something whitish that was just along its top.
The rate of the water level rise seems to have slowed down in all EMHI hydrological statons except 1 or 2 (click on station name to get level graph). Map of positions of stations HERE
Frustratingly, all stations except Riisa have updated to to-day! There are two other stations quite near Riisa: Navesti-Aesoo and Pärnu-Oore, but not on the same river.