More Levee Coverage

NPR had a segment this morning in which the farmers complained that the removal of a 2 mile section of levee was too big and caused too much damage.  They wanted a smaller section removed downstream.  Unfortunately for the farmers I think they are wrong here.  The wider opening would lessen the extent of the damage in whatever spot the levee was opened, while the smaller opening further downstream would not have had the intended effect, and would have caused a lot wider hole to open up at that location.  Anyway, here are before and after satellite photos via Jeff:

Before

                                                             


After

Also, the story mentioned how the Army Corps holds floodage easements on the 130,000 acres of farmland, and another story indicated farmers will be eligible for crop insurance payments.  It is really just the erosion and sedimentation damage that they'll have to deal with, which is plenty in itself.