High water from the Crawfish and Rock rivers has idled two manufacturing plants in Jefferson, forcing the temporary layoff of about 300 people.

Production stopped June 11 at the Tyson Prepared Foods plant, which usually employs about 200 people, and Thursday at the Nestle Purina Petcare plant, where about 100 people work. Officials from the companies could not be reached for comment.

Some people are still working at the Tyson plant to clean up after a dike broke, flooding the plant, but an exact number was not available. The Purina plant is on higher ground and did not sustain flooding, Jefferson Mayor Gary Myers said.

The plants voluntarily shut down because they are big customers of the city's overtaxed wastewater treatment plant, which has been running beyond its recommended 5 million gallons per day since late last week. The plant normally treats about 2.5 million gallons a day but has been treating 7 million gallons a day.

"They want to do what's right," Myers said of the companies.

In Jefferson, 55 homes have been evacuated, and flooding covers about 20 square blocks in different parts of the city. Two of the city's main bridges are closed — the Highway 26 bridge over the Rock River and the Wisconsin Drive Bridge over the Crawfish River.

It's unclear when the two plants will resume production, but Myers said the decision will be based on river levels. The workers are eligible for unemployment benefits during the layoff, according to the state Department of Workforce Development.

Flood stage in Jefferson is 10 feet, but the Rock River was at about 15 feet Tuesday after cresting at 15.5 feet Monday. Both plants, which voluntarily shut down along with some car washes, could reopen once the river drops to 13 feet, Myers said.

"We're at the mercy of the river," he said.

Countywide: Several roads and bridges remain closed, and "it's going to be at least another week or week and a half before we could (even) evaluate them," said Bill Kern, Jefferson County highway commissioner.

Highway crews are instead helping sandbag areas throughout the cities of Jefferson and Fort Atkinson, especially the wastewater treatment plant.