The historic high where we used to live in IL was 25.73 in 2008. Flood stage is 15'. I was there for that and it was sure something to see. The levee gave out and the entire town of Gulfport IL was under water. There was a gas station there and all you could see of it was the roof. Oh here's a pic of Gulfport under water... note all the roofs.



The bridge between IA and IL at Burlington (also shown in that photo) was shut down for months. I lived in IL and worked in IA and I had to go down to Ft. Madison to cross, making my 20 minute drive an hour plus drive all summer long.

Cleary the yanks up yonder ain't doing their fair share in promoting Global Warming like they should be, what, with all the snow they are causing with all of their War on Climate activities they must be doing.

Why do people build on floodplanes

Because they are idiots.

Rivers used to be roads. Roads and rails are next to rivers too. Hence so are towns.

P.S. Where will I find the panfish during high water in May?

Would you rather have em build next to you in the Bush?

Also modern drainage has had a major impact on the severity of the floodplain and expanded it

No,B + B they should be your neighbors,lol.

Even in the desert where do people camp out? Not to far from water water hole right? Don't think there are any major rivers that are totally free flowing any more either. Even small stream and rivers got dams to for reservoirs for various reasons.
Not everyone can live at head waters.
They have tried over the years with dikes and canals to take people out of the flood plain. People don't like to be told where can can't live.

Mac

And it's screwing up my spring beaver trapping, too. From severe drought to record flooding. Can't win.

So I wonder where all those sturgeon will travel to. My hunting partner travels there and has caught lots they they have tagged over the last 10 years

49 er you are right; give the farmers a GPS and let er rip

Turkey is up very little here in ne Iowa, Upper Iowa is probably too. Not much dumping in from Iowa side. Just backing up in to it. But I guarantee the Wisconsin River is bringing a lot of water.

Yes it is Bankrunner, the Wisconsin is out of it banks and bringing a lot of water down. Muskrat posted some photos of the Boscobel and Woodman boat landings. I'm in PDC and it's not good here for the folks a few blocks from me. The saturation of the ground also comes into play here as well. Just drive along the bypass and you can see that.

Badger23
You best put your waders on.
Watching the news this morning water is getting here to where people getting pretty nervous. Sounds like you folks down there in Prairie going to get it worse than us.
Starting to see more and more trash on the move too. This one's going to definitely rearrange the rocks some.

Mac

Most of the towns close to me are close to a river and / or a train track. Towns tend to pull water from rivers if it's feasible. Even most cities in the US are close to a river or some body of water.

Bad Deal

Pretty sure I'll be okay where I'm at Mac. I'm 5 blocks up from main street with an incline as you go. I've been through 2 floods in Bagley when I was there. One in 2001 which surrounded my place and got under my trailer and in the screened in porch then lost my place in the flash flood in July 2007. There was no time to move anything on that one. Floods suck and I feel for anyone who has went through one or is.

Many folks scream about (against) floodplain zoning , then scream again when the floods come.

Probably cause flood insurance helps them rebuild?....

Kinda like here, building second homes on the barrier beach, Hurricane washes them away and the rebuilding starts when the check comes in...

Took these pictures this morning. Usually looking at these dock and boats from where I took the picture. I would be looking down at the roofs of these boats. That may not seem like much water just looking at these pictures. Thing is that it is that much across the whole river valley. Tremendous amount when you think about it that way.






Mac