A James River Water Development District board member from Menno, Dave Bender, says he can't remember seeing the river flows as high as they are this time of year.

And hydrologist Mike Gillispie of the National Weather Service says the river appears headed for an October record.

He says the river has been running about 5 feet higher than normal.

The Stratford area is the only part of the James River's main channel above flood stage. Stratford lies near the Brown-Spink county line in northeast South Dakota.

Gillispie says the river becomes backed up between Aberdeen and Redfield, creating a high flow that continues down the river.

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