Climate change, industry, parks, air and water quality are issues that are debated in congress, compete for funding and enpassion many Minnesotans.
April 16, 2001 - For more than two weeks now the houseboat residents on Latch Island have watched the Mississippi rise to its highest levels in three decades. Positioned between Winona and the Wisconsin border, and surrounded by river and other flood plain islands, Latch Island serves as a year round anchor for an estimated thirty houseboats. Mainstreet Radio's Erin Galbally reports many in the unusual community plan to wait out the flood waters as the river prepares to crest on Wednesday. {It's taken a few weeks, but slowly, Latch Island has disappeared. Spindly trees holding out against the current are the only things that identify what was land. Sol Simon owns one of the floating cottages that continue to bob along despite the rising river.
April 17, 2001 - Granite Falls continuously gets hit hard during the annual floods. The money would be issued to families and to build new dikes. Governor Ventura and the House of Representatives are not backing the idea.
April 17, 2001 - Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Joe Albaugh spent most of yesterday touring flooded areas in the Red River Valley. Albaugh viewed flooded areas, and several FEMA funded projects that are successfully preventing flooding this year. The FEMA director made no promise of federal aid, but praised Minnesota and North Dakota officials for preventing serious flood damage this year. Minnesota Public Radio's Dan Gunderson reports.
April 17, 2001 - Mississippi River communities along the Minnesota and Wisconsin boarder are anxiously waiting for water levels to crest. Wabasha officials hope the worst is over their town, after the Mississippi reached its expected peak early this morning at more than 6-feet over flood stage. As the water slowly begins to recede in Wabasha, further down river Winona is anticipating the Mississippi will hit the high mark any time today. Minnesota Public Radio's Erin Galbally reports from another Mississippi River town, La Crosse, where crest height and timing remain unclear. {(rushing water sound)
April 17, 2001 - MPR’s Marisa Helms reports on the status of flooding along rivers in Minnesota as some begin to crest. As officials and residents finish flood preparations, they now monitor dikes and levees, waiting to see what happens next. The Minnesota River has already crested in the Granite Falls and Montevideo area. The Mississippi River Flood of 2001 brought the 2nd to 3rd highest crests on record to many Mississippi River locations, including Lake City, Wabash, and Winona. The Mississippi River impacted the metro as well. It crested at 23.8 feet in St. Paul, submerging riverfront parks, the airport, and closing roads.
April 17, 2001 - The snow and wind that suddenly kicked up yesterday had members of the Army Corps of Engineers vigorously working to repair an eroding dike along lock number eight on the Mississippi in Genoa, (Jeh-NOAH) Wisconsin. The long hours of working against the elements are taking their toll. But, Terry Jessessky, the central area lock master, says, so far the dikes are holding.
April 17, 2001 - The Mississippi River is expected to crest tomorrow in Fountain City -- a tiny Wisconsin town located across the river from Winona. For the past two days, volunteers have been shoring up a weak spot in the dike that is threatening downtown. Fountain City Mayor, Carl Brommerich (Brum RICK) says the round-the-clock effort has paid off and so far the dike IS holding. He says, however, there's still a lot of water seeping into the town.
April 18, 2001 - State safety officials say the worst of the flooding is over. The Red River has already begun receding, and even though the lower Mississippi, Minnesota and St. Croix Rivers are just beginning to reach crest levels, safety officials say revised forecasts, good prepartion and coordination around the state will greatly minimize impact on those river communities. Minnesota Public Radio's Helms reports. {Safety officials say now that the Red River is receding and Valley communities are moving into the damage assessment phase, state emergency efforts are focusing on the Metro area.
April 18, 2001 - Flooding on the Minnesota River near Shakopee has engulfed a popular rollercoaster at Valleyfair. An aerial view of the partially submerged ride made the front page of the Star Tribune today. Amy Maikkula (MIKE-ul-uh) is marketing manager for Valleyfair. I asked her what she thought of the photo.
April 19, 2001 - The late thaw of the rivers and then the high crest of the rivers slowed down businesses dramatically because they were not able to ship and handle their ordered supplies.