BIWABIK — The community of Biwabik is dealing with fallout from flooding after a washout severed a city water line to the northwestern part of the city, including Giants Ridge. Around 200 property owners are impacted.
City Administrator Jeff Jacobson said they were able to connect to neighboring Aurora’s water system, but the Department of Health requires testing in this situation. Test results should be available Friday, and Jacobson said he expects no issues.
American Red Cross volunteers were distributing bottled water from the Giants Ridge parking lot from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday and will return from noon to 5 p.m. Friday if needed.
The washouts also damaged sewer and gas lines. The sewer line remained intact, but Biwabik will be building a temporary sewer line to bypass the damaged section. The natural gas companies stabilized the gas line and installed an emergency cutout as a precaution.
In a Thursday update, Giants Ridge said one of its golf courses closed and would reopen Friday with play on the front nine holes. All mountain bike operations are suspended, and a re-opening date has not been set. All hiking trails are also closed for repair.
Debris from the washout is also causing the water level in Wynne and Sabin lakes to rise several feet, with residents worrying the water will reach their homes.
The Gilbert Police Department, which also serves Biwabik, asked for no boat traffic on the lakes in a Thursday Facebook post, as wakes disrupted the sandbagging of homes.
The City of Hoyt Lakes is asking people to avoid Whitewater Lake for the next two weeks, as it may have been contaminated by temporary overflow from the wastewater plant.
When one road opens, another one closes
Biwabik is one of many St. Louis County cities impacted by flooding. The County Board declared a state of local disaster in an emergency meeting Thursday morning.
According to a Thursday evening update, 43 county roads are closed, though not the same 43 closed; 18 additional roads closed as water levels rose, while 18 have been reopened after repairs.
Visit the St. Louis County website for the most up-to-date closure information.
The website also has information for property owners impacted by the flood, including health guidance, septic and well information, and a form to submit if property has sustained structural damage.
Multiple Range cities have organized storm refuse collection or damage reporting forms. Residents should check with their local governments for details.
St. Louis County road closures as of Thursday evening
District 4 (northern St. Louis County)
New
- UT 8143 North Peterson Rd (TH 1 – CR 107)
- CR 914 Watt Rd (CR 500 – CR 958)
- CR 958 Alango Rd (CR 914 – CR 938)
- CSAH 107 Lind Rd (TH 73 – UT 8199)
- CR 491 Roini Rd (CSAH 82 – UT 8157)
- CR 431 Short Rd (CR 948 – CSAH 115)
- CR 600 Johnson Rd (CR 948 – CSAH 115)
- UT 8110 CR 361(TH 1 – CSAH 115)
- CR 356 Range Line Rd (Fire # 9339 – CR 923)
- CSAH 24 Vermilion Dr (E Vermilion Blvd – CSAH 115)
- CR 620 Salo Rd (90 corner – UT 6301)
- CR 796 Kaunonen Lk Rd (Cemetery Rd – CSAH 21)
Ongoing
- Hwy 22 (State Hwy 53 – County Road 912 Ralph Rd)
- CR 652 Goodell Rd (State Hwy 53 – County State Aid Highway 82 Heino Rd)
- CR 467 Heino Rd (State Hwy 53 – CR 912 Ralph Rd)
- CR 912 Ralph Rd (CR 652 Goodell – CSAH 82 Heino Rd)
- CR 421 Sassass Rd (State Hwy 1 – CSAH 87 Leander Rd)
- CR 912 Ralph Rd (CR 467 Heino Rd – CR 492 E Anton Rd)
- CR 492 E Anton Rd (CR 912 Ralph Rd – State Hwy 53)
- CR 467 Heino Rd (State Hwy 53 – CR 430 Burghardt Rd)
- CR 936 E Hannula Rd (State Hwy 53 – Terminus)
- CR 923 Leander Rd (CR 912 Ralph Rd – Terminus)
- CSAH 107 Lind Rd (UT 8199 Range Line Rd – State Hwy 73)
- CR 931 Murray Rd (CSAH 22 – CR 491 Gustafson Rd at Bridge)
- CR 481 Carpenter Rd (UT 8163 Graham Rd – UT 8157 Goodell Rd)
- UT 8157 Goodell Rd (CR 491 Roini Rd – State Hwy 73)
- CR 492 Anton Rd (west of State Hwy 73 from Fire # 11244 – Terminus)
- CR 720 Lindsey Rd (State Hwy 1 – CSAH 114 West Olson Rd)
- CSAH 116 Echo Trail (UT 8211 North Arm Rd – Moose River Landing)
- UT 8211 North Arm Rd (CSAH 116 Echo Trail – Terminus)
- CR 408 Mud Creek Rd (State Hwy 1/169 – Terminus)
- CSAH 138 Giants Ridge Rd (CR 416 Tower/Biwabik Rd – Terminus)
Reopened
- CSAH 24 Crane Lk Rd (Unorganized Township Rd 8121 Kallio Rd – CSAH 23 Buyck)
- CSAH 24 Kallio Rd (UT 8121 South – UT 8121 North)
- CR 512 Sassass Rd (CSAH 87 Leander Rd – Terminus)
- CR 481 Carpenter Rd (CSAH 82 Heino Rd – CSAH 22)
- CSAH 22 (State Hwy 73 – CR 931 Murray Rd)
- CSAH 25 (CSAH 65 – CSAH 22)
- UT 8134 West Reik Rd (Ut 8142 – CSAH 139)
- CSAH 114 West Olson Rd (CSAH 5 – State Hwy 73)
- CSAH 139 Range Line Rd (State Hwy 1 – CSAH 114 West Olson Rd)
- CR 455 Sundling Rd (CR 676 Fectos Rd – Terminus)
- CR 674 Breezy Pt Rd (CSAH 77 – Terminus)
- CR 949 Bradley Rd (CR 929 Moccasin Pt Rd – Terminus)
District 5 (Duluth and surrounding townships)
Ongoing
- Fox Farm Rd under water at Sucker River Bridge between Two Harbors Rd and Hwy 44
Reopened
- App Rd. at Captain Jacobs Creek between Two Harbors Rd and West Knife Rd
District 6 (Central St. Louis County including quad cities)
New
- Hwy 44 closed at Brimson Road (approximately 500 feet north)
- Hwy 44 closed at Jack Pine Road (approximately 1,500 feet to the south)
- Hwy 101 closed from Hwy 7 to Butler Road
- Voss Road closed at Hwy 101
Ongoing
- Brimson Toimi Road between Hwy 16 and Little Creek Road
Reopened
- Pettit Road closed west of Heritage Trail
- Hwy 44 closed between Brimson Toimi Road to Fairbanks Road
- South Loon Lake Road closed just south of Hwy 16
- Williams Rd closed west of Smith Road.
- Wilson Road closed at Highway 4
District 7 (Southwestern St. Louis County)
New
- South Townline Road (CR 442) from Hingeley Rd. to two miles east of Hwy 73
- Sherwood Anderson Road between Williams Road and Osborn Road
Ongoing
- CR 65 closed 1.35 miles west of Highway 73 due to washed out culvert
- CR 63 just west of Hibbing
- Shaw Road between Hayes and 92
- Green Rock Road by Belchner Road
Source: St. Louis County
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