By Wikideas1 - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=149721033


The Water Column - Power

In June 2024, heavy rains swelled the Blue Earth River until it breached the Rapidan Dam south of Mankato MN.  I watched the drone footage posted on Facebook with fascination.  I had spent many hours as a young boy fishing below that dam. I took my son to those boyhood haunts and we bow fished at the base. We later had a burger and slice of pie at the Dam Store (best dam store by a dam site). I caught a five pound channel catfish the day before my wedding below that dam that was now in peril. 

Over the next few days, the raging waters cut away at the bank, eroding the edge and carving a new riverbed. The serpentine change in direction took out The Dam Store owner’s home and eventually the store itself. 


Heavy rains in June of this year have flooded farmland and lakeside cabins in Kandiyohi County. Storms on June 13, and another round of rain two weeks later delivered triple the average rainfall for the month. Damage estimates have totaled more than $1.4 million so far.


On July 4, 2025 flash floods killed at least 135 people in Texas. Fast-moving waters rose 26 feet on the Guadalupe River washing away homes, cabins, and vehicles. The waters moved quickly in the middle of the night, catching many off guard in “flash flood alley.”


As I write this column, there is a break in heavy rains that caused some localized flooding in low areas and some streets in Alexandria.  The city of Ely is under a flash flood warning as nearly a foot of standing water remains on the roads in areas of northeast Minnesota. There is no shortage of such headlines and stories about the power of water.


“100 year” weather events do not attend to a calendar.  They can happen anytime, and seem to be more frequent. The way we treat our land can help manage the impact of heavy rain events. Our actions impact our environment and our environment can impact us in return. To minimize destructive impacts on our infrastructure, on our lakes and streams and ground water, we need to be mindful and minimize our own footprints and impacts on the land and water around us. Don’t think that the next harmful flood will happen somewhere else or in another hundred years. The fact is, it could happen and has happened here - and can again and again. We need to respond smartly.


Keep a buffer of native plants along stream edges, plant rain gardens, keep storm sewers clear of debris - these are all simple best management practices we can employ to mitigate flooding and flood damage. These practices have a positive effect on water quality as well. You can learn more about these best management practices and others by visiting the Douglas Soil & Water Conservation District website: douglasswcd.com


Another site to explore is alexandrianaturetrail.weebly.com  Here you can learn about a recreational trail project that does more than connect neighborhoods and enhance access to nature.  The Alexandria Nature Trail is a project that will also protect ground water, reduce flooding and stormwater management costs. In short, it is a project that will NOT pave paradise and put up a parking lot. Become a friend of the nature trail and help this project become a reality.


Water is an incredibly powerful compound. It is relentless and can change landscapes. It can cut away at stone, saturate wood, and rust iron. When there is too much it can be impossible to direct where it goes. When there is too little, we miss it dearly. When it’s just right, we hardly give it a thought. We need to be mindful of this most precious resource.  

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