MnGCA

[lizs]

Due to the major floods and flash floods of Aug. 18-19, I'd double check before doing some area caches. I asked that Root River Roll-up be disabled and the owner has done that. Check the cache listing for an amazing shot of what water can do. 400 ft. of bike trail on the west end of the bridge no longer exists:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=ae33a93c-314b-4baf-ad79-401f4dbc43ab

Also, I see Archerdragoon has disabled one in Whitewater State Park, which suffered mega-damage he reports here:
http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=55885bf7-f803-4793-8703-09aa4a9f1068

I think Archer's cache is fine... and suspect the Root River one also is still there due to its location - BUT!!! Both locations are officially closed by the DNR due to dangerous damages that will need big repairs.

Most of the damage was in the narrow valleys where flash floods occurred (other than Rushford, where a flash flooding creek overflowed its levy - and then the Root River levy kept the water in) and continued on down to the Mississippi. One village on I-90 - Witoka - was reported as having 17" of rain. And just south of Hokah, MN a new MN rainfall record was set at an official gauge, around 15".

Some cache owners may not have had a chance to check caches, so just be aware if you're caching in this area, well, some may be gone.

Thanks! Any help to towns affected (or Red Cross to help them) is also greatly appreciated. Fillmore, Houston and Winona counties have already been declared Federal Disaster Areas. The towns affected include Rushford, Stockton, Elba, Minnesota City, Goodview, Winona, St. Charles, Hokah, Brownsville, Pickwick, La Croscent, Houston, Money Creek and more.

[wayfarer222]

Also check SW Wisconsin. Lots of damage there too if you're headed that way. Highway 35 was closed for a section south of LaCrosse when we were there on Thursday (8/23).