Floods might become the norm for southeast Iowa

Heartland Connection: Flooded rivers may be something Southeast Iowans are just going to have to get used to. That is if a report by the Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council turns out to be accurate. The council, consisting of top Iowa scientists and economic development specialists, spent the last 18 months studying the issue of climate change in the state and recently released its findings.

The report claims that Iowans are already facing the effects of climate change. Some might seem pleasant like warmer winters or backyard plants flowering sooner. But some are more troubling like the long term trend toward more rain, particularly the extremely heavy summer rains like those that tormented the Hearltand last summer….

Iowa City, IA, June 16, 2008 -- Danforth Chapel on the grounds of the University of Iowa is surrounded by floodwaters from the Iowa River. Shot from FEMA