Two of our state parks remain under water but they’re not as far under water as they have been. Big Lake State Park and Lewis and Clark State Park in northwest Missouri have been under water about three months. But floodwaters from the Missouri River are slowly retreating.
State Parks Director Bill Bryan says Lewis and Clark is in better shape than Big Lake. Lewis and Clark does not have the structures that Big Lake has. And Bryan says all of those buildings will need a lot of repairs. He says the motel, cabins, and restaurant, and the swimming pool all have been inundated throughout the flood.
He says it’s too soon to tell if Big Lake State Park can be opened for the 20-12 season. He hopes it can be opened in some limited capacity with possible use of the campground. But he says the water remains high enough that workers are not able to determine what will have to be done to rehabilitate even that part of Big Lake.
Listen to interview with Bill Ryan 4:45 mp3