Minnesota River Flood

• 2011-04-13 7 notes

  

  The flood waters of the Minnesota River have, for the most part, receded from the roads and highways along the Minnesota River in the Henderson and Belle Plaine areas yet some of those backup thoroughfares remain barricaded and closed to drivers in the eastern Sibley County area. For whatever reason, it seems as though Sibley County officials are dragging their feet when it comes to opening these roads while thousands of residents endure unposted detours adding dozens of miles on hard surface highways taking them far out of their way or literally risking life and property to travel poorly maintained gravel roads which are carrying far more traffic than they were originally meant for. I, for one, expect open communication with persons like Sibley County Public Works DIrector Darin Mielke and Sibley County District 1 Commissioner Jim Nytes — both of whom have been less than forthcoming when it comes to communicating information regarding this year’s flood. Apparently the Sibley County government expects us to just shut up and keep paying taxes and be happy with more of the same.

• 2011-03-31 3 notes

  

  The flood waters are receding as you can see with this photo of Sibley County Road 6 heading north out of Henderson. Nearly a full lane of pavement is exposed. Maybe in a week people will be able to drive on it and put an end to the 15-30 mile detours!

• 2011-03-30 1 note

  

  Clinging to the edge of a hill tonight, I snapped this photo of what the water from the Minnesota River looks like from outside the Henderson, MN levee. The span of black plastic is draped over the stop log which fills the gap in the levee, saving the city from a rush of flood water but blocking the underwater Minnesota Highway 93.

• 2011-03-28 2 notes

  

  EVen though the Minnesota River has overtaken it, I can assure you that there’s a road under that water. If for some reason there isn’t, those signs are a pretty sick joke.

• 1 note

  

  Could it be the (first) crest already? It seems that the Minnesota River may have actually crested which would mean far less driving for me in a week or so. The river’s current stage at Henderson, MN is 737.66 feet which would make this the 7th highest crest in recorded history — beating last March’s flood by about an inch.