Kayak Trip on Missouri river Bismarck ND During Major Flood of 19.1 Feet 7/2/2011

By Mark Armstrong

We took two kayaks from Misty Waters, the Burnt Creek Loop road near Misty Waters, under the bridge and past the County Kniefel Park. We stopped on the sandbar north of Christmas Tree island. We noticed some beavers had been at work there, but there was still sand on a two hundred year crest there.

We saw three homes still fighting the river and groundwater. The damage to Merriwhethers and the Keelboat Park area. There was one minor rapid below the BNSF Railroad bridge, but the river was Class one throughout even with a 19.1 feet flow, 150,000 cubic feet per second, 22nd highest flow in history since 1873. And highest in the post-dam area by a factor of 2.5.

800 homes on both sides of the river here have been directly impacted by the water. The three homes seen in this video have been in the water and inaccessible, except by boat, for at least three weeks. It could be months before that condition will change. There are questions now about whether any of these homes will be structurally sound when this mega-flood is over.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• floods
• water
• Bismarck
• groundwater
• disaster
• flooding
• human
• tragedy
• MIssouri
• river
• kayak
• floodwaters

[bismarckman]

Yes, as I have told people, this is a very safe trip for anyone who normally runs the Missouri river. No rapids, no issues, Class one throughout, except for the rapids near the pillars on the bridges, easily avoidable as well. We are not anywhere near any of the public levees either when we put out near Steamboat Park, so not violating any of the Coast Guard regulations either.

[ChrisHadMS]

I was just where you are in 07 on vacation and we were on a pontoon my buddy owns. We took a boat ride the same way you went. This is something else.  I had no idea it was this bad.

Tell the father I will offer up a prayer in the Rosary Confraternity for you all.

I wish the cam didn't shake so bad but it's all good

Chris Young

[kuelhand]

Thank you for posting these videos. I'm originally from Dickinson, but now reside in MN. So let's just say i've been across the Missouri a couple of times in my lifetime. I've tried to follow this story on the news channels, but it almost seems like they're not covering it anymore. Your videos allow me to get a perspective of where the water is and where it should be.

[MakkIsLooking]

Well done - glad you've all apparently returned back to the starting point safely.

Thank You !

Sure hope this vid goes viral.