By Jo Schaper
With the 8th Congressional District’s seat officially vacant, Missouri’s two senators, Roy Blunt (R) and Claire McCaskill (D) have been meeting in February with federal officials as they seek to make a final determination on the 58-year-old New Madrid Floodway/St. John’s Bayou project along the east side of Mississippi County
They continue to [...]

According to the Associated Press in this story from BSD.com, the Army Corps of Engineers said that the Mississippi had finally quit flowing into the breached levee at Birds Point, Missouri.
Earlier in the week, Governor Jay Nixon told the Corps that Missouri was willing to assist financially with the rebuild of the levee. A decision [...]

In a year in which Missouri has been ravaged by weather related disasters, in an economy which is shaky at best, and with more water coming down the Missouri River, Missouri governor Jay Nixohas asked the Army Corps of Engineers for a quick temporary levee to restore the New Madrid Floodway portions of [...]

Here’s a link to a Wall Street Journal story on the aftermath of the openinof the New Madrid Floodway.
Jo is going to see what she can find out about the current status of public lands in the area, and post here if she has any success.
If anyone from the area knows, please contact her [...]

According to an article in the Southeast Missourian, Jo-Ellen Darcy, assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, sent a letter to Congresswoman Jo Ann Emersonestimating
45 to 60 days for the water in the floodway to recede, meaning that may not happen until July 1 at the latest.

This photo of Towosahgy State Historic Site in Mississippi County, within the New Madrid Floodway, reveals perhaps the real reason that Mississippian culture native Americans built mounds up and down the middle Mississippi Valley at Cahokia, St. Louis, the Bootheel and counties adjacent to the big river:

Jo found this large scale NASA image of the flooded Missouri Bootheel today. Although I’m generally familiar with the Bootheel and its watercourses, I need some help from our readers.
First, please look at this image taken May 8, 2011:
I can pick out the Black, St. Francis, Little River Ditches, and Mississippi, New Madrid [...]

Full story: http://www.semissourian.com/story/1725425.html
Southeast Missouri farmers and property owners whose land is now underwater because of the activation of the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway will get their first up-close glimpse of the damage Monday.
Mississippi County Sheriff Keith Moore announced to about 60 residents at a special meeting Friday that he would allow them access to the [...]

Video below courtesy of www.stltoday.com.
Traveler greatly appreciates all fellow media who have access to airplanes or helicopters and who are sharing to spread the news about this historic event.
The second levee blast took place at 12:37 p.m., this one near New Madrid, and one of two to open the lower end of the [...]

General Michael G. Walsh of the Corps of Engineers, and president of the Mississippi River Commission announced at a news conference this evening that the New Madrid Floodway would be ready for operation at 9 p.m. tonight.
By Jo Schaper
Opening the floodway will take place between 9 p.m. and midnight. Operations will then [...]