Relief is being noticed from flooding along the St. Joseph River in Royalton Township. Berrien County Sheriff’s Captain Rockey Adams says the water is starting to recede and there’s been a “significant reduction” of water from yards along the riverfront. Adams adds ice along the river at the M-139 bridge broke free to allow the river to resume a normal flow after slowing the current this week and being a big factor in the flooding. He says once that ice broke free Wednesday night, residents reported an eight-inch drop in the water levels in the street and from drainage ditches. The United Way of Southwest Michigan also helped this week by providing volunteers to fill sandbags for residents along Derfla and Linden drives off Bacon School Road.
