The Mississippi River is close to its forecast crest in St. Louis today, and we went down to the riverfront this afternoon to see it.
We started by walking across Eads Bridge (the long arched bridge in the top photograph) from the far (Illinois) side back to the city. Again, there were a lot of people on the walkway looking at the rapidly flowing mass of muddy water.
From the bridge you could see the riverside road completely submerged and the riverfront restaurant boats cut off. The park rangers had erected barriers to prevent people in the Westward Expansion park – site of the arch – from getting too close to the water. It had covered up the lower steps of the stairs leading down from the park to the river.
After we exited the bridge walkway, we walked into Laclede's Landing, the conglomerate of bars and restaurants right by the riverside. The water was reaching well up into this area, but only parking buildings were flooded.
The most affected riverside attraction was the President Casino based on the gleaming Admiral riverboat. The boat floated, of course, but the same was not true for the entrance. No gambling here at least for a while. All to the benefit of the Casino Queen on the Illinois side of the Mississippi, no doubt.
Hi Matt! It is, maybe about 11 feet below that peak. High enough though – some small towns a little north of us like Foley and Winfield have been devastated. 😦
I've seen the water really high there, but that is way higher than I've seen. Wow. It's still quite a bit lower than that big one in 1993, isn't it?
Yeah. I've been following that news. Just sad. From water springs life, and yet, it can be so incredibly destructive.
So true!
Wow – that is! Yikes. Well, when a river drains essentially the center of a vast continent, you can expect some serious hydrologic power.
I wonder what it will happen with mosquitoes and the West Nile Virus in those areas… I know this is not the only problem right now , but it still a great concern 😦
Yeah. I drains more than half of what's east of it, and everything west of it to the Continental Divide. That's a boatload of water!
We have fields that are surrounded by trees, and they look like dirty bathtubs – the water killed everything below 10 or 12 feet above the ground. Amazing.My brother says he remembers seeing grass and debris from moving water in TELEPHONE LINES. That is just stunning.
West Nile is now firmly established in St. Louis, Angeliki, with carriers found in every part of the area. It is very likely that I have already been bitten by a carrier, but it seems that I am probably one of the great majority of people who show no symptoms from the disease.
I hope you never show symptoms Richard, you and your family. It is awful….I believe I am immune with the kids since with our visits to Greece and spending a lot of time at the Evros River Delta (20 min. away from home)we had our share of mosquito bites.. Still always a concern of mine.Stay safe and healthy..
Now, this keeps on, doesn't it? I was sure it was all over by now – but apparently not
I am one of those people who is blessed to be unappetizing to the mosquito. I can count the bites I've had in adulthood on one hand. Heck, I've had more bee stings than mosquito bites!
You are lucky, Matt – I wish I had particular talent! 🙂 Glad you're immune, Angeliki. It's nearly over, Allan – the river is going down now. Thank goodness!
That's normal for the Mississippi River, right? Going up and down like that.
😆 Depends what you mean by normal. Yes, it does that, but unlike a tidal river in a quite unpredictable way. For some reason, this unpredictability seems to encourage people to build by the river and on flood plains. :eyes:
I have little patience for people who build in flood plains.In Washington, people built on the edge of cliffs, even though houses fell off the edge of cliffs ever winter. Then the owners would sue local government for the loss of their house, because they had no insurance. There's a reason insurance companies won't insure your catalievered, poised to plummet, $2 million ravine rocket. GOSH!