Chain O' Lakes waters recede below damage stage

The Chain O' Lakes hit a milestone of sorts today in its flood battle.

For the first time since June 11, water will recede below the level where structures suffer flood damage.

However, that's tempered by a forecast of thunderstorms today and Saturday that could cause lake levels to rise slightly, officials said.

Flood gauges on the Chain list water at 6 inches above flood stage, just at the point of structure damage.

Gauges in New Munster, Wis. show the Fox River could dip below flood stage by late today, much earlier than predictions indicated. That would mean flood levels in hard-hit Fox River Springs in Antioch Township could drop below flood levels as early as Saturday, officials said.

That all depends on the weather.

Officials estimate the storm system cruising across the Midwest will dump 1 to 3 inches on the Fox River watershed by Saturday morning.

If the watershed sees 3 inches, New Munster could rise about 1 foot, officials estimate.

"But, we aren't as concerned today as we were Tuesday because it seems like we will not get the maximum," said Kent McKenzie, head of the Lake County Emergency Management Agency. "If it hits 3 inches, then we'll have some concerns. But, if it's only an inch or an inch and a half, it won't hurt us too bad."