River Run or River Ruin? You make the call!

October 23, 2011 – Forsyth Mo. - As I sat at a campsite whose shelter had endured serious damage, my eyes inspected a crude and soil covered supporting pillar with some interest. As the flood that inundated River Run Park over the summer fades now in my memory, the scars it left are still fresh here wherever you happen to look. It's just too bad, as this location just east of the town of Forsyth Missouri has always been a popular destination for many people from all walks of life. Now, as I look around, increasingly I feel like I've fallen into the middle of some Stephen King novel. What had been a place of sunlight and safety now has begun to take on a darker and more sinister light.

Has this placed been abandoned? I wondered as I watched a solitary man on a bike being trailed by his two dogs. Getting up, I started walking on the circular trail that circles the park area proper. The damage I had observed over a month ago is exactly as it was then. The public shower and rest rooms are locked and more than likely unusable as they do not look like anyone has attended to them. The same went for what used to be the Park Attendant area itself where a tree collapsed some time ago and still lies where it fell. Park signs are caked with mud and debris to the point where you can barely read them.

Well, I thought to myself, at least we have Shadow Rock Park left. It’s run by the local government and is working just fine.

Followup: On or about November the 18th a crew showed up to 'fix' the gate that looked to me pretty much 'unbroken'. Ahem. Also, I noticed a two man crew who appeared to be cleaning the campsite shelters with high pressure sprayers. Will wonders ever cease. It would still be nice if the Corps made an effort to keep interested parties in the loop.  

River Run is recovering quickly! Fishermen return!

As of the 6^th of October, the River Run Park is beginning to look a little like it’s former self. I had a chance to walk there this morning and was pleased to see that some fishing trailers were parked by the boat ramp. There was also a couple walking around like I was.

It amazes me how fast the grasses have recovered from being submerged for most of the summer. As you can see by this picture of the log that stuck in a tree, the water level was considerable.

As I walked around, I noticed that a few of the trees had died during this period and will need to be removed, but also surprisingly, the area was relatively free of flotsam. A few good rains should take cared of the layer of dust that covers much of the campsites, although they will be useable once the Corps restores power and water to the area. Something I conjecture will not happen until next spring at the earliest.