RFP Presents

Flood Waters 2008

From Saylorville Reservoir
to the
City of Des Moines

A Story of Dreadful Beauty

© Gerald Rowles 2008
Please Don't Copy These Photos Without Formal Permission.
[click on thumbnail for larger image]

Photographer Gerald Rowles
Anticipation - Heavy Rains

Anticipation - Emergency Spillway Nears Crest

21,500 CFS of Liquid Fury

Anticipation - Releasing 21,500 CFS		 Anticipation - Shettler Pond Floods at 21,500 CFS

Anticipation - Shettler Bike Trail Not Yet Under Water





Saylorville Spillway in More Normal Summers

Turkey Vultures Feuding Over Prey

Anticipation - Upper Lakeview Under Water		 Anticipation - Control Tower Road Under Water

Anticipation - Cottonwood Going Under at 21,500 CFS

Anticipation - The Picnic's Over at Cottonwood



Saylorville Crest at the Mile Long Bridge



Saylorville Crest at the Mile Long Bridge
Saylorville Crest at the Mile Long Bridge

Saylorville Crest at Lincoln Access

The Crest at Saylorville Marina

June 10-11 - The Emergency Spillway Overflows		 June 10-11 - The Emergency Spillway Overflows

June 11 - The Main Spillway At Maximum Output

June 11 - The Main Spillway At Maximum Output

Contining Threat of Rain

 June 10-11 - The Emergency Spillway Overflows

Emergency Spillway Waters Race Through the Gorge

Emergency Spillway Waters Race Through the Gorge

Emergency Spillway Waters Race Through the Gorge



Emergency Spillway Waters Race Through the Gorge

Racing Water Scours Away the Soil

Emergency Spillway Waters Race Through the Gorge

Emergency Spillway Waters Race Through the Gorge
Emergency Spillway Waters Race Through the Gorge

Turkey Vultures Await a Feast of Stunned Carp

Great Blue Heron Feast at Water's Edge

Main Spillway Discharge Attacks the Shoreline

Main Spillway Pushes Rocks and Debris Over Walkway


Main Spillway Pushes Rocks and Debris Over Walkway

Topsoil Washed Away

Overflow Rushes to Des Moines

Overflow Rushes to Des Moines
Second Avenue House Floods Again

Mr. Bibbs Prepares to Flood Again

 City at Flood Stage

City at Flood Stage - Sepia

Prepared for the Worst		 Bridges Closed

Bridges Closed

Riverwalk Lights Out


Basement Cleanup

Capital City


Des Moines View in Normal Summer vs Below

Des Moines Takes on the Appearance of an Island		 Des Moines Takes on the Appearance of an Island
Des Moines Takes on the Appearance of an Island

Des Moines Takes on the Appearance of an Island

Soaked Floral Survivors

Main Roads Closed		 Flood Waters Begin to Recede

Flood Waters Begin to Recede

Flood Waters Begin to Recede - Arches Visible

Rolling In		 Flood Oasis

After the Crest

Court Avenue Bridge

Two Days Past the Crest


As Waters Recede

AS Waters Recede - Dark Days at Cottonwood Park

Mud Mesa

 Aftermath - Saylorville Emergency Spillway

Aftermath - Nature's PostScript





Dreadful Beauty - The Edge

Dreadful Beauty - Monster Wave		 Dreadful Beauty - Clash of Colors

Dreadful Beauty - Sleeping Maiden

Aftermath - Carpecue

Aftermath - Cleanup
Final Hours After Crest - Saylorville Gorge

Final Hours After Crest - Saylorville Gorge

Final Hours After Crest - Saylorville Gorge

 Final Hours After Crest - Saylorville Gorge

Waterfall to the left Before the Flood

Final Hours After Crest - Saylorville Gorge

Final Hours After Crest - Saylorville Gorge

Final Hours After Crest - Saylorville Gorge

Final Hours After Crest - Saylorville Gorge

Final Hours After Crest - Saylorville Gorge Last Gasp

Final Hours After Crest - Saylorville Gorge Last Gasp
Saylorville July 4th Weekend - Not Quite Back to Normal

Saylorville July 4th Weekend - Not Quite Back to Normal

 Saylorville July 4th Weekend - Not Quite Back to Normal

Saylorville July 4th Weekend - Not Quite Back to Normal

 Saylorville July 4th Weekend - Not Quite Back to Normal

Saylorville July 4th Weekend - Not Quite Back to Normal

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