At most gages on the river, except a few just downstream of Kansas City, river levels are dropping or remaining steady. Flood fighting continues at many locations along the river, and attention in many areas is shifting to watching soggy levees and keeping an eye on the weather forecast. Unlike many flood events, a "crest" in the river doesn't mean that a particular location is out of danger from this flood. Consistent or widespread rain can still cause local or downstream river rises while the peak flows continue from the dams. The Corps continues to say that releases from Gavin's Point Dam will remain at 160,000 cfs "well into August". Any heavy rain events in the upper basin could change this.
According to the Missouri Levee & Drainage Improvement Association, all non-federal primary levees north of Kansas City are overtopped or breached. A major levee in Carroll County, MO, downstream of Kansas City, which protects over ten thousand acres of farmland, is overtopping and residents are fighting the river with massive sandbags (click here for an map of the levee system). The "crest" here has broken the record set in 1993.
MODOT is watching US 65 in Carroll County very closely. Levee problems in that area may eventually close this highway and the bridge between Carrollton and Waverly. Current US 65 has one lane open. 9,000 feet of large sand bags have been placed along the highway to try to keep it open.
Politicians from all affected states are beginning their jockeying to protect their perceived interests as some attention shifts to re-evaluating the management of the river even as the flood continues. While journalists and other stakeholders seem to be looking for a fresh perspective, several politicians seem to be lining up along the familiar upper vs. lower state lines. See articles below for some of the analysis from a variety of newspaper and political sources.
Here's a compilation of recent links regarding the continued Missouri River flood.
News Sources
(see previous posts for more excellent links to facebook pages and news feeds on the ongoing flood)
MightyMoRiver Gazette - a newspaper style collection of flood news feeds
Newspaper Special Sections
Many major papers along the river have created landing pages for the latest on local flood news, photos and videos. Here's a few:
- Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck/Mandan, North Dakota
- Capital Journal - Pierre, South Dakota
- Yankton Daily Press-Dakotan - Yankton, South Dakota
- Sioux City Journal - Sioux City, Iowa
- Omaha World-Herald - Omaha, NE/Council Bluffs, IA - The most comprehensive of the Special Sections
- St. Joseph News-Press - St. Joseph, MO
- Kansas City Star - Does not have a special section
- Columbia Missourian - Columbia, MO
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch - St. Louis, MO - Their page is called One River, One Problem. It also has a Facebook Page . In addition to posting news stories from the flood, this page is focused on discussions about changing the management of the Missouri River (see below).
Omaha World-Herald, July 11, 2011 - "USGS notes flood's quirks"
Columbia Tribune, July5, 2011 - "Scientist Questions Flood Benefits of Public Land Along Missouri River" USGS fluvial geomorphologist Robb Jacobson leads study on flood retention potential of public lands in the floodplain.
Associated Press, July 9, 2011 - "Experts Expect More Missouri River Levee Failures"
Aerial Photography & Video
- Lee Valley Auction - This pilot, whose farm has flooded, has been doing almost daily flights to keep neighbors informed of conditions north of Omaha. Click here.
- KPTM - Channel 42, Omaha
- Nasa.com - Satellite view of Omaha area - ALSO - Comparison of satellite photos from June 26 and July 4 of Lower Missouri River flooding. ALSO - Comparison of satellite photos from 2010 and July 10, 2011 of Missouri stretch of the river.
- KETV Channel 7 - Omaha - Aerial photos submitted by viewers.
St. Louis Beacon, July 11, 2011 - "Flood expert Galloway: Missouri River needs comprehensive plan" Former Army Brigadier General Gerald Galloway again brings up ideas promoted in a report he helped write post-1993 flood on reducing flood risk. Click here to download 1994 report, "Sharing the Challenge".
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 2011 - "One River, One Problem" - a series of editorials and discussions on Missouri River management. The series was inspired by a P-D editorial with that title written in 1944 (the year of the Flood Control Act passed by Congress that implemented the Pick-Sloan Plan creating the reservoir system/navigation channel. Click here to read a reprint of the 1944 editorial.
Columbia Tribune, July 10, 2011 - "Wild Weather Wrecks Havoc on Corps' Plans" - a pretty balanced look at the different variables contributing to this flood.
Bismark Tribune, July 9, 2011 - "Making Peace with the Missouri River"
Sioux City Journal, July 9, 2011 - "Tragedy Aside - Flood will benefit knowledge of Missouri River"
Marshall Democrat-News, July 5, 2011 - "Flood of 2011 illuminates question of priorities"
Missouri River Politics
St. Joseph News-Press, July 11, 2011 - "Graves’ amendment points out ‘absurdity’- Corps spends millions more on wildlife than on levees"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 10, 2011 - "Senators to Meet Over Future of Missouri River"
Missouri.net, July 7, 2011 - "Time To Study Levee Districts and the Missouri River Basin?" (audio) State of Missouri Agriculture Director calls for study of levee system.
Associated Press, July 8, 2011 - "Ag Secretary Questions Corps on Missouri River Flooding"
Omaha World-Herald, July 8, 2011 - "Branstead Criticizes River Group"
Columbia Tribune, July 6, 2011 - "McCaskill calls Corps inquiries seeking property along Missouri River insenstitive" Also - Tribune publisher Hank Waters writes a response editorial: "Claire and the Corps - Politics or Bad Performance?"
Montana
Billings Gazette, July 11, 2011 - "A Tour of Fort Peck Dam: An Engineering Marvel Holds Back Massive Missouri River"
Billings Gazette, July 11, 2011 - "Oil Spill Cleanup continues on Yellowstone River"
Time Blog, July 11, 2011 - "Why Yellowstone Oil Spill So Difficult to Clean Up"
Dakotas
Yankton Press-Dakotan, July 8, 2011 - "Dams Burdened by Rain"
Sioux City Journal, July 11, 2011 - "Some Along Missouri Wonder Why they Received no Levees"
Jamestown Sun, July 8, 2011 - "Officials need to be ready when river returns to "normal""
Omaha World-Herald, July 9, 2011 - "Reservoirs Gain a Little Room"
Iowa/Nebraska
Omaha World-Herald - July 11, 2011 - "Unwelcome News for Displaced"
KTIV - Channel 4, Sioux City - July 10, 2011 - "Sandbags fighting more than water" - Sun degradation is yet another force working against temporary flood protection.
Associated Press, July 5, 2011 - "Congested Missouri River Threatens Tributaries"
Omaha World-Herald - July 8, 2011 - "More Omahans Get Flood Warnings"
KETV Channel 7, Omaha - July 6, 2011 - "Aid could come slowly for flood Victims"
Omaha World Herald - July 7, 2011 - "Blasting of Levee OK with Branstad"
Kansas/Missouri
KMZU - 100.7 Carrollton, MO - July 11, 2011 - "Wakenda Levee Breaks"
Marshall Democrat-News - July 9, 2011 (Updated July 11) - "Private Levee Overtops in Malta Bend Bottoms"
Missouri.net, July 7, 2011 - "Missouri Levee Association Chair Provides Latest Flood Info" (audio story)
St. Joseph News-Press, July 6, 2011 - "Flood Fest 2011 to raise funds for relief"
Kansas City Star, July 8, 2011 - "Missouri River overtops Carroll County Levee"
Pulaski County News, July 8, 2011 - "Missouri National Guard conducts anti-flood operations in Cooper County in Wooldridge, MO"
No comments:
Post a Comment