Sand Dunes
May 23, 2012
Dramatic changes occurred in the Missouri River valley when the waters receded from the 500-year-flood of last summer. The transformation is especially vivid in the Springfield vicinity, where miles and miles of river bottom are now covered with fine white sand. Here are some photos, taken this week during 30-40 mph winds that gave the river dunes a desert appearance. Photos by Bernie Hunhoff.
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A visitor studies the river valley from an overlook in downtown Springfield. -
Many trees seem to have survived the summer-long flood, but forestry experts say it will be years before we know for certain. Some may still be too stressed to live for long. -
The bottomland in Bon Homme County is littered with trunks and branches of trees swept up in the flood. -
An eight-mile stretch of gravel road from Springfield to Running Water was inundated last summer. Now the road is open for traffic, with new gravel. Farmers are repairing fences and anglers are returning to cast for catfish and walleye. -
Sand now covers open areas where corn and grass once grew. -
A canoe, tied to the shoreline in the bottom, is evidence that life is returning to normal for local residents. -
Waterfowl and other wildlife suffered greatly from the disruption of the flood, but this goose never moved from its post. -
A killdeer blends in with the sand. In recent years, the Corps of Engineers has spent millions of dollars trying to create poor imitations of the sand islands that now lie in the Springfield bottom. -
The river narrows at Chief Standing Bear Bridge, west of Springfield. -
Sandbars have formed around the big bridge's massive pillars.
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