Flooding can occur any time with little or no notice.

Water has been known to rise along a river or creek or gully in a matter of minutes due to powerful thunderstorms. This is exactly what happened in Big Thompson Canyon on July 31, 1976, near Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. In three hours over a foot of rain fell causing a heart-breaking flash flood in this narrow canyon.

Today’s column focuses on how flooding impacts people around the world including numerous communities along the Minnesota River and especially further north in the Red River Basin. Learn about some of the facts related to flooding in the United States, the benefits of flooding and how to minimize risks during major flooding events. Find out about the Northern Leopard Frog, attend the next quarterly meeting of the Minnesota River Watershed Alliance, check out the Ney Nature Center and don’t forget about celebrating Earth Day.

Water: Spring floods
Spring means many things to people including the end of winter as plants began to bud and grow in a burst of color. If you live along a river it also means the potential for flooding as snow melts and rain showers push water levels ever higher. The Minnesota River has experienced numerous major flooding events since the time of European-American settlement as river communities like Henderson, Mankato, Granite Falls and Montevideo dealt with high water causing millions of dollars of damage.

We have seen some high water levels in the Upper Minnesota Watershed this spring but the most drastic flooding scenario has played out north of us in the Red River Watershed. This flat, northern flowing terrain invites the potential for flooding every year in cities like Wahpeton-Breckenridge, Fargo-Moorhead and Grand Forks-East Grand Forks.

For more information, log on to www.redriverbasincommission.org.

Did you know: Flooding in the United States
• More than 10,000 people in the United States have lost their lives in floods since 1900.
• On July 31, 1976, 141 people were killed in the Big Thompson Canyon Flood (Colorado) after 10 to 14 inches of rain fell.
• A majority of flood deaths — 66 percent — happen when people try to navigate flood waters in a vehicle.
• A person can be knocked down by a mere 6 inches of rapidly moving water.
• A bus or large vehicle can float in only 2 feet of water.
• Flooding can take place in all 50 states including the desert where flash floods happen without warning.
• Every year in the United States floods cause $6 billion worth of damage and kill about 140 people.

Water science: Flood benefits
Flooding is the cause of destruction and death all around the world.

Flooding is also a natural part of the ecosystem and provides numerous benefits to the land along a river. This land known as a floodplain traps sediment, nutrients, bacteria and other pollutants along with providing valuable habitat for all types of wildlife. Here you will find riverine wetlands that help recharge ground water and are used by fish for spawning and food. Some of the richest agricultural land is found along rivers because annual floods deposit rich nutrient soil. This includes along the Mississippi River, Nile River in Egypt, and the Tigris-Euphrates of the Middle East.

What you can do: Minimizing the flooding risk
Pay attention to the National Weather Service for advisories related to a Flood Watch (flooding is possible) and a Flood Warning (flooding is occurring or will occur soon).
• Be prepared by having a bag packed with important items like medications, money, clothing and other items you may need to for an extended period of time.
• In an event of flash flood — move to higher ground immediately and don’t try to out run a flash flood, chances are you will get caught in the rushing water.
• Make sure you turn off all utilities at the main switch or value (if instructed to do so) and disconnect electrical appliances.

For more information, log on to www.fema.gov/hazard/flood/index.shtm.

The natural resource: Northern Leopard Frog
One of the most common frogs in Minnesota and North America, the Northern Leopard Frog is an easy amphibian to identify. With two or three rows of dark spots on its back, this frog lives in a wide variety of habitats including wet meadows, open fields and grasslands near waterbodies, wetlands and forest edges.

Unfortunately, the population of the North Leopard Frog has been declining in Minnesota and throughout the United States since the 1960s. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, common causes for this decline includes red-leg disease, pollution, pesticides and the loss of wetlands and other habitat. They are also killed by humans to be used as bait for experiments in biology laboratories.

For more information, log on to www.dnr.state.mn.us/reptiles_amphibians/frogs_toads/truefrogs/northernleopard.html.

Community event: Minnesota River Watershed Alliance quarterly meeting
Come out on April 21 to the Quarterly Meeting of the Minnesota River Watershed Alliance at the Hutchinson Event Center (1005 Highway 15 South Plaza 15).

The gathering starts at 6 p.m. with a social hour, food and a chance to talk to with others interested in the Minnesota River. At 7 p.m. the formal meeting starts and we strive to finish in two hours. We will be talking about a variety of issues including launching the Minnesota River Paddle Patch/Decal Program and Minnesota River Friendly Label, along with updates on the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Funding and the potential for a Minnesota River magazine.

The Minnesota River Watershed Alliance is a volunteer, active, action-oriented group of watershed advocates. We invite every citizen, landowner, nonprofit organization and government agency in the Minnesota River Watershed to participate.

For other events in the Minnesota River Watershed, log on to http://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/calendar/index.html.

Organization profile: Ney Nature Center
The Ney Nature Center overlooks the broad Minnesota River Valley near the historical river town of Henderson and has become one of the best environmental learning centers in the region.

Established in 1996, this center is named for the Ney family who homesteaded the land and wanted to provide a place where people could learn about nature and help preserve some of the original landscape including wetlands and native prairie. Today, the Ney Nature Center and Nature Preserve consists of 450 acres, a learning center, an extensive trail system and historical buildings.

The Ney Nature Center is also known as the place where some of the first sightings of malformed frogs were made. Go out to the Ney Nature Center for one of many programs they offer including an Earth Day Clean-up on April 18 starting at 9 a.m.

For more information, log on to http://neycenter.org.

Recreational opportunity: Earth Day
Earth Day only comes once a year and it reminds us how we all can play a role in protecting the natural environment. This is a great time to get outside to enjoy the landscape as it transforms itself from the hibernating season of winter to the burst of green we know as spring.

Get out in the great outdoors to take a hike and pick up trash at the same time or go for a paddle on your favorite river and pull some of the junk littering its banks. A number of organizations are holding clean-ups around the Minnesota River Watershed including the Ney Nature Center near Henderson and Clean Up the River Environment out of Montevideo.

For more information, log on to www.earthday.net.