High Waters

Lifeguard Station - No Swimming during Flood

Lifeguard Station – No Swimming during Flood ©2008 Bo Mackison

Weather. 2008 has already given us enough crazy weather, and there seems to be no end in sight. Usually by mid-June, we have been on the Madison lakes for six weeks – fishing, boating, tubing. But this year has been unusual, weather-wise. First a crazy winter with a record breaking 100+ inches of snow, then a spring that didn’t arrive until the end of April, and now so much rain and flooding that the Madison lakes are effectively closed for recreation.

Lake Mendota - Sun Setting on Flooding

Lifeguard Station – No Swimming during Flood ©2008 Bo Mackison

Boats are still allowed on the lakes, but the entire chain of lakes is under a “no-wake zone.” The swimming areas and beaches is usually filled with people by now, but no one is playing in the water these days and the beaches are all underwater. I’m not complaining, though. I may be inconvenienced, but that is all. In Madison, most of us are counting our blessings and keeping our fingers crossed.

On a slightly different note, the Mississippi River is expected to crest on Friday in my hometown – Quincy, IL. The bridge is closed heading into Missouri there, and at numerous other sites connecting the states of Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. In Quincy, people have come from around the country to help fill more than 750,000 sandbags. These bags are surrounding levees and threatened utilities. The water treatment plant is surrounded by thousands of these sandbags and people are praying they will hold back the river. If they don’t, Quincy residents have access to three days worth of city water. Then the city of 45,000 would have to rely on bottled water.

One man brought his teenage children to Quincy this week from Colorado Springs, Colorado to fill sandbags. He said he wanted them to have the experience of helping others who are dealing with a natural disaster of this proportion. College students who attend area schools have returned to many river communities from their Chicago homes to help sandbag the levees. 300 Amish from the Amana Colonies in Iowa are helping. The National Guard is there sandbagging and providing needed services.

It’s heartening to hear the many people coming together to help each another. The Red Cross and other agencies are providing needed services and are asking for all the help they can get.

A big thank you to everyone who making an effort and making a difference.

***

As of 1 pm: 4 levees have broken, farms and houses flooded for 25 miles south of Quincy. The water treatment plant is still open.

About Bo Mackison

I'm a photographer, book-artist, traveler, naturalist, and creator of the Contemplative Creatives Journey, An Online Workshop and Community and Desert Wisdom Cards and Workshops. Though often not well known, I find the desert a welcoming place - a healing space. Its mysteries and gifts transformed me several years ago. Since that first encounter, I return again and again to fill my well in what most people think of as a desolate region. I'd love to share my desert discoveries and wisdom with you. Please subscribe to receive my five part mini email course The Gifts of the Desert. It's my gift to you.

Comments

  1. Good perspective. Madison isn’t in great shape, but the real heart break stories are in the areas of IA, WI, IL, & MO where lives, livelihoods and homes are threatened.

  2. Chris Osborne says

    It really is nice to hear that so many people are willing to help. I hope that the extent of the damage is done for you.

  3. Hopefully things will begin to dry out for you all, I am sure you have had enough of it !!

  4. Thinking about you and hoping you and yours are safe, Bo!!

  5. Flooding, ugg but you did capture some nice photos! That sunset colors are perfect!

  6. I’ve seen folks come together during situations like that and it’s heart-warming. I hope you and yours stay safe!

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