High Water Mark - Montgomery, Alabama
Posted by: 
xptwo
N 32° 22.930 W 086° 18.821
16S E 564556 N 3583004
Montgomery had seen flooding from the Alabama River since it was incorporated in 1819, but it had to wait until February 26, 1961, to reach the record of 58.1 feet, some 23 feet above flood stage.
Waymark Code: WME6WN
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 04/11/2012
Views: 14
The Alabama River peaked at 58.1 feet after several days of rain, but remained above flood stage for 17 days. A sign was placed on March 11, 2011, to give perspective and requires the viewer to look up.
According to the National Weather Service press release (
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"A High Water Mark Sign commemorating Montgomery, Alabama’s flood of record was unveiled during a ceremony at the Montgomery Riverfront at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 11th. The High Water Mark Sign shows the highest flood level reached on the Alabama River at Montgomery during the official NWS period of record which dates back to 1890. The highest flood level recorded at Montgomery during this period occurred on February 26, 1961, when the river crested 23 feet 1 inch above flood stage at 58.1 feet. A line on the High Water Mark Sign indicates the depth of the water at the Montgomery Riverfront during this flood."
To give some perspective, the Harriott II Riverboat is moored by the marker. At normal levels, the top of the smokestack is below the flood level sign. That can be seen in one of the photos in the gallery.
This mark shows the high water level since records were established in 1890, but a local historian said that a flood in 1833, before Montgomery was chosen as the capitol of Alabama. According to the story at (
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"Local historian Mary Ann Neely was on hand to discuss the 1961 flood, including her own personal recollections. She said she specifically remembers the river finding its way into the city water system as the flood grew stronger.
"[The river] is still in control and will always be in control," Neely said. "It deserves our respect, and it gets our respect. This is a wonderful thing to have here."
Neely said she found in her research that the first recorded flood in the Montgomery area occurred in 1833 and flowed all the way up to Coosa Street."