Drought of 2013 Turning Into the Flood of 2013?

It is very hard to believe that at the beginning of 2013 the mighty Mississippi River was at its lowest level in many years, but just four months later it is at one of its highest!  In January, water levels were at the 9^th lowest ever since records have been kept, with a measurement of -4.57 feet.  This is just 1.6 feet above the all-time low record set in 1940 during the dust bowl!  However, the record rains and spring snowstorms are presently flooding the Mississippi to high levels, to a height of 45 feet more than at the first of the year!  The forecast is calling for the 8^th largest flood ever since records were kept.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hard at work trying to control the waters and alleviate any potential stresses on the dams along the river, but as was the case in the past there are always unknowns and the possibility of breeches or supervised releases in order to save a greater area from flooding.  This has the obvious negative potential of causing major harm to certain farmland or fields where crops were recently planted or getting ready for cultivation.  Granted, the Mississippi River has always had this situation along its banks, and in most cases has relied on this new silt and rich mud to keep the soil enriched with nutrients.  This is a natural cycle of the area, and has kept the farmland very rich and productive.

However, farms today rely on other methods to enrich the soil, and the flooding of the river is something to avoid at all costs on their property.  The Army Corps of Engineers will almost always rule in favor of saving the buildings and houses of a city or town, and divert the excess water into the surrounding farmland.  In terms of property damage, this causes the least amount of losses, but it also leaves the farmers with a mess to clean up of their own.

A big question is, how will this massive spring flood affect the lingering drought of the last couple of years in the vast Midwest plains states?  Will it be enough to cycle out of this water free status and into a time of plentiful rain for the crops?  The drought was pretty severe, and it will take quite awhile of this type of rain activity to bring things back to a normal state, but it can definitely help!

The last year or two have brought crop disasters in multiple successions, and it would be nice to finally break free of this cycle that has hurt both farmers and ranchers alike.  If we can just have plentiful rain this season, it may be enough to keep small to mid-size farms from folding up and selling out to other interests.  This is the heartland of America, and the breadbasket of the world!  With a little help from Mother Nature we can make sure it stays that way!