A (mainly) dry weekend and pleasant start to the workweek has allowed area river levels to recede, if only slightly, the past few days.

Terrance Groves, director of the Stephenson County Emergency Management agency reports to us that the Pecatonica river at Freeport has fallen to 13.50 feet as of 7:30 Monday morning, 5/5. As of 8:30 Monday night, the water level had fallen about another tenth of a foot, to 13.41 feet, according to the National Weather Service's Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service. This is still above the flood stage of 13.0 feet, but significantly down from the 14.18 foot reading last Friday.

Meanwhile, the Pecatonica River at Winslow was at 14.09 feet Monday morning, says the statement from Groves. The flood stage there is 13.50 feet. Groves says the water levels are expected to decline further, in the absence of significant rains this week.

Groves says that drivers should expect to find water on the roadways that are in or near the flood plain, such as Van Buren at Lancaster, Henderson between Lancaster and Park Street, and streets South of Stephenson from Hancock to Louis.

Also encouraged by Groves is that residents living in or near the flood plains get their wells tested. High water levels can contaminate well water. Water test kids can be obtained from the Stephenson County Environmental Health Group in Freeport, says Groves.

Further East, an inspection of the Rock River levels show further declines over the past few days, and the forecast there is for that trend to continue. Minor flooding continues to be reported in Rockton and Machesney Park.

The Kishwaukee River is reported as being well below flood stage.

Rain is in the forecast in the Tuesday through Thursday time frame, so river levels will continue to be watched closely this week.