We stopped at the Devil's Backbone, a wooded sandstone outcropping that rises above the flood plain.
The water you see above is flood water from the Mississippi. We spent a few hours exploring the area, driving around the flooded fields. The flooded farmland makes for an oddly beautiful sight. Daniel said it was like driving on a lake. We saw many homes that were vulnerable to the water, some that were inundated. We tried to egress from a different route than our entry point, but every way we turned led to a dead end into an impassable road. This entire huge area has one road in and out. If it floods many families will be completely isolated. What we couldn't figure out is why the homes are mostly ranch homes instead of two story homes with the living space all on the second floor above flood level. Since we have see so many homes that are flooded we feel there is an opportunity to develop some truly wonderful flood plain specific architecture. How about a house on stilts with a porch all around, lots of glass and a deep overhang? You could catch a nice breeze on the second floor and maybe get above those nasty biting flies.
Here is the view from the levee. The water is all over cropland.
The flooded fields have attracted many great blue herons and egrets. There must be tadpoles, catfish and what all to keep them there. I am sure the fish will provide great fertilizer when the water dries up. If I had a flooded field I would stock it with small fish for that reason. We left some wild trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) that I had cut from the banks of the Mississippi the day before as a roadside memorial to this beautiful bird that is now, sadly, roadkill.
Here is a home site -- all that is left is the shed and a dish antenna. One advantage to having amobile home in this area. You just pick up and leave.
It's an amazing river. Can't imagine how the Army Corps of Engineers thought they could control it. It goes where it wants.
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