Weather...

Weather across much of the country has been abnormal this year.  From lots of snow this winter, to drought across the south, to too much water/flooding in the midwest agriculture is taking a hit.

We in ND have experience with drought.  It wasn't too many years ago that we were in the midst of a terrible drought and we were buying hay to feed our cattle.  This year we have a surplus of hay from the last 2 years resulting in us not planting a single field for hay this year.  We joined the "farmers" of the area and planted wheat instead.

And we consider ourselves lucky, too.  We have gotten alot of rain this season which would have made putting up hay difficult or impossible. 

With MT getting a lot of snow this winter and then the unusally wet spring many people down river (Missouri River/Mississippi) had to deal with flooding.  The cities of Bismarck and Minot both had devastating floods this year.  Bismarck is still dealing with very high levels of water moving through the system.

The Garrisson Dam is built north of Bismarck on the Missouri river.  It creates Lake Sakakawea (the Big lake in ND).  For the first time in its history (built in 1947?) the Corps of Engineers released water from the spillway.  As a historic event for ND we made the trip to the dam (about 2 hours away) to see the water.



Driving over the dam seeing the water released from the spillway.

The Big Lake.  A few years ago the water level was so low that many of the boat ramps had to be extended and then they still were not long enough.

We made it there at dusk.

All of the gates at the spillway

This is where the water is normally released although at a much reduced volume.

The girls had endured a long ride by this point and were not wanting to stand still.

Someday she will be pissed about this picture, but we still bring the little potty chair with us when we travel.  Just not enough bathroom opportunities on the prairie.