High water levels on the Kansas River created high interest among some Lawrence residents Monday afternoon.

About 30 people lined the Kansas River levee just east of the Massachusetts Street bridge about 1 p.m. Monday. Another dozen people spent part of their lunch hour watching the river at the North Eighth and Oak streets boat dock.

“It is just fascinating to watch, especially on a day like this,” said Ron Grose, a Lawrence resident who owns a water garden business.

Grose, who frequently fishes on the river, said it was interesting to see the rushing water carry large logs and other debris over the Bowersock Dam.

“This thing is just a very powerful natural force,” Grose said. “You can see it when it is running like this.”

Julie Edmondson, a North Lawrence resident, brought her children down to see the river. She was in Lawrence during the 1993 flood and remembers how the Kaw raged back then. None of her children is old enough to remember, though. She said she wasn’t surprised to see all the people at the river.