Floodwaters begin receding from St. Peter area

The Minnesota River has begun a slow return to its regular channel.  This photo of the Highway 99 bridge in St. Peter was taken just after it was closed to traffic on March 19.  Note the crests of water at the base of the bridge, and a large tree stump lodged upright against the bridge deck.  Previous Gustavus Geomorphology students may not recognize the Rush River, pictured below; it is usually about 2 feet deep and 30 feet across when the geomorph lab visits in the fall, but it has been raging out of its banks for over a week now.