FLOOD PROTECTION

The Midwest is again suffering from unimaginable flooding along its rivers, and has already affected the Mississippi.We read about the levees which are supposed to protect the towns and farms. We learn that they are mostly large dirt "dikes" and water ultimately breaches their weak points. The protection that the larger communities resort to was a true eye opener.

A long long time ago my wife and I took a fall foliage cruse on the Delta Queen from Cincinatti Ohio to St. Louis. One of the most amazing sights along the Ohio and the Mississippi were the "flood walls" surrounding many of the cities. Cape Gieardeau, MO. is an excellent example.

The first two pictures were taken from the Delta Queen when it docked there. In October the river was at a low but navigable level to St Paul and beyond. But here despite the shallow draft of the sternwheeler, the long gangplank was need to reach shore.


We could never imagine the height of the wall and the gate which resembled a canal lock. One can see the high water mark from previous floods. A few years ago the river did a flank maneuver and broke through levees on the sides of the town.


Doesn't it look like we are back in the Middle Ages with fortified cities similar to this one (Oschenfurt ?) on the Main River?


Imagine!