Flooding has been a persistent thorn in Ames’ side this decade, and local businesses are hopeful that the recent rainfall will not cause damage comparable to that of years past.

Squaw Creek, the North Skunk River and the South Skunk River all reached at least bank-high levels or higher early Monday morning; many areas currently are under water, and conditions may worsen if the rain continues to fall in and north of Ames.

Clare Bills, public relations officer for the City of Ames, said whether or not more rain will affect the current river levels depends upon where it falls.

“We have to determine where the rain falls,” she said. She said patterns of rainfall are used to predict what areas will be affected most.

She said conditions should not worsen if rainfall is light in both the Ames area and north of Ames.

“At this point, things are receding and greatly improved over where they were three or four hours ago,” Bills said Monday afternoon.

“Standing water is still around, but it’s definitely receding,” she said.

Bills said Brookside and Stuart Smith Parks are flooded, but no water has run onto the streets; the only street that has been closed is East 16th Street on the eastern edge of Ames.

Some businesses on the flood plain in South Ames around South Duff Avenue have been affected by flooding, but most businesses are standing dry and closely watching the weather.

“I’m concerned, but when they announced what the crest was going to be, I wasn’t too concerned anymore,” said Carl Chumos, manager of Ruttles, 531 S. Duff.

He said Squaw Creek must reach about 15 feet to cross South Duff, and when it reached 16.5 feet in 1996, his business remained unflooded.

At 5 a.m. Monday morning, Squaw Creek was at 13 feet, according to a press release from the city.

Chumos said he does not see much cause for worry.

“I’ll wait and hear what the predictions are,” he said. “I don’t think we’re looking at anything like 1996.”

Chumos said Ruttles is built above the normal flood plain, but other businesses located in the same area are having some trouble.

He said Century III Theaters, 507 S. Duff, has sandbags and sump pumps. The building goes below ground level, making it more susceptible to flood waters.

Chumos said the theaters put up a “Temporarily Closed” sign on Monday.

“The theater parking lot was flooded,” he said. He added that the area where the water has receded is visible.

Chumos said he doesn’t think his business has been affected much by the flooding, but that business on Monday is usually slow, making it an inadequate indicator for busier days.

“I hope it rains very little and it doesn’t get any higher than it is now,” he said.

Chumos said Twentieth Century Bowling, 505 S. Duff, is not flooded either, and he thinks the owner is also waiting for predictions.

Bills said some Ames residents have reported water in their basements from the 2.7 inches of rain Ames received on Sunday and the heavy rains during the preceding week.

“We’re hopeful that the rain amounts will stay small so we won’t see any significant flooding,” Bills said.