The Norfolk-Southern Railroad bridge that crosses the Oostanaula River at Ridge Ferry Park might be the perfect place to tie off Rome’s river boat during high water, according to Eric Lindberg.

The Roman Holiday has avoided any damage from debris being carried by the swollen river, Lindberg said Thursday night.

The Rome-Floyd environmental services director checked on the boat to make sure it was OK.

The boat was moved from its dock at the park late Wednesday after rising waters left a large amount of debris in the area.

Community Development consultant Ron Sitterding said early Thursday that the river rose so quickly that he and Lindberg didn’t have time to get the boat on its trailer.

During flooding last month the boat was taken out of the bank and put on the river levee.

Lindberg said they are considering tethering it to the railroad bridge from now on during high water because the bridge’s piling provides a buffer from debris floating downstream.

The Oostanaula at Turner McCall Boulevard went from 7.5 feet on Tuesday to a peak of 24.89 feet Thursday morning. “I do not recall this rapid a rise in the Oostanaula River in my 18 years of involvement with boating in Rome,” Sitterding said.

The remnants of what was Hurricane Ida dropped about 3.5 inches of rain on Floyd County in two days.

Rome Water and Sewer Director Leigh Ross said several other factors contributed to the surge, including an already saturated ground and releases upstream from Carters Lake.

Lindberg said the plastic dock at Ridge Ferry Park that was owned by the Berry College rowing team was swept away, along with a boat tied to it.

He said they searched the river for it today but found no sign of it.

Local river levels:

The Oostanaula River at Turner McCall Boulevard dropped from 24.89 feet Thursday morning to 23.79 feet by 7:15 p.m. Flood stage is 25 feet. The Etowah River at Veterans Memorial Highway had dropped to 24.95 feet at 7 p.m. Thursday, down from 30.63 Wednesday. Flood stage is 32 feet.