Quick, destructive, powerful: the Mississippi River. During flood season, the Mississippi is a powerful and devastating force for residents who live near the ferocious river. NPR writes that engineers believe that metropolitan areas will not be greatly affected by the high water. Since the 1927 flood disaster, the U.S. government has played a larger role in flood control across the nation. As the Mississippi River crests in most of the Southern states, residents prepare for the worst. In the Quad Cities area, however, an entirely different story is occurring.

 

As summer approaches with high temperatures, the bright sun and summer vacation, the Quad City area's flood fight might be over soon. After the last couple weeks of sandbagging and evacuating, the waters are receding. We are witnessing our flood fight coming to an end. Water flooded River Drive for a couple of weeks, but now the river barely reaches the sidewalk. Crews are removing floodwall panels from Schwiebert Park and removing the flood protection from Modern Woodmen Park — even more examples of the end of the flood in sight.

 

The environmental impact of the flood is minimal. The grass in parks around the QC area can be saved through a variety of methods. Crews will try and use fertilizer and fresh water to bring it back first; if such efforts fail, crews will use sod replacement and reseeding. As the water level sinks and summer approaches, QC members are planning to enjoy the flood-free summer.