Most of the major waterways in the St. Louis region have crested or are near their crests following the wettest June on record. More than 13.1 inches of rain fell last month, nearly an inch more than the previous record set in 2003. High water levels on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers are declining and the Missouri River at St. Charles is forecast to crest at about four feet above flood stage Saturday afternoon. Russell Errett , a Hydraulic Engineer for the US Army Corps of Engineers, said the corps is using the break from rainy weather to free up flood control capacity at the district’s five reservoirs. “We are actively releasing water from those and freeing up flood storage space as quickly and safely as possible so that we’re ready for the next big rainfall event,” he said. “We know that one big rainfall event could fill up our reservoirs. We’re trying to evacuate that storage … between these crests,” Errett said. The worst areas have been north of St. Louis near Meredosia. The
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