Despite flooding on Mississippi River, Midwest mayors upbeat

The Upper Mississippi River will rise to near record-high levels as it flows through Wisconsin and Iowa, but officials said Thursday they expected to hold back floodwaters with a combination of flood walls, temporary barriers and wetlands, especially if dry weather continues.

The high water is due to the quick melting of a giant snow pack in northern Minnesota that is slowly moving down the approximately 2,300-mile (3,700-kilometer) river that will ultimately empty into the Gulf of Mexico.

Major cities in Iowa and Illinois won’t see the river crest until early next week, and then it will take about 10 days to recede to more normal levels.In the Quad-Cities area, made up of five abutting cities that border the river in Iowa and Illinois, that crest is expected on Monday, making it the third-highest flood to ever record in that area.