That flooding in Northwest Missouri?

There's more than a few people in Northwest Missouri--and I'll bet the surrounding area--that think that flooding that's happening around there is, at least in part, due to the mishandling of the Missouri River by the US Army Corps of Engineers. I reported here before that my own brother sent the head of the Corps a letter back in December saying, literally, "please, please" consider releasing at least some of the water up North this year because of record snowfalls--back in December of last year. They then got yet more snow in January and February, at least, but the Corps didn't open the dams until around the beginning of June this year. From an article in the Star today: In Missouri, presiding Holt County commissioner Mark Sitherwood said U.S. 159 is closed south of Big Lake because water is pouring over the road, and most of the west side of the community is underwater. "It's going through in one place that we know of and overtopped in numerous places and there is seepage everywhere," Sitherwood said. He said most people evacuated well in advance of the flooding. Those who stayed were told Saturday night that water was flowing into the area. A few people live in cabins that have been built up and decided to stay, Sitherwood said. "Everyone up here knows the routine," he said. The Big Lake area, where water has been high for the past couple weeks, has experienced major flooding in three of the last five years. But Sitherwood said this year promises to be much worse following weeks of high flows and increasing releases from the main stem dams in Montana and the Dakotas. "I know they wouldn't admit it, but this is a manmade event," said Sitherwood, echoing a sentiment common in the area that the Army Corps of Engineers is mismanaging the Missouri River. "Nobody is going to tell me it isn't. It is probably going to be historical." The commissioner said his own home is at risk. "Thank you Corps of Engineers," he said. The corps has said unusually heavy rains, not mismanagement, are to blame. Link to the original story: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/19/2960777/levees-in-northern-missouri-breached.html