And so it begins.....

So- here is what is happening locally. We live in an area called Goat River Bottom, an old channel cut through the banks over the centuries, which has become farm land. Through it runs the Goat River, which is dyked on both sides to prevent flooding in heavy snow load/heavy rain years.
This winter had a weather pattern of rain and then hard freeze, topped with snow that was a recipe for river problems. As of now, the river has ice jams that are moving, and mild weather has returned which is causing the water to flow over the ice.
One place was in immediate danger as the water flowed over the banks and into her property. I had heard about it on Facebook and drove down to see if I could help. I got there in time to help evacuate 6 cows, who were quite certain that they didn't want to wade through almost belly deep (on them) icy water.

We used corral panels and a stock trailer and funnelled them along the fence line which was just barely out of the water and got them loaded.

This unfortunate lady has been evacuated. This is what her driveway looks like today:

The water, which had been flowing rapidly through her gate has slowed and frozen. There was a sandbag crew come in to divert the water once we got the cows out.  The local fire department has a crew of volunteers working filling sandbags, as this isn't over yet.

The Goat River has an overflow channel that rarely has water in it, even in spring run off. Here is what she looks like today:

I have been monitoring the dyke to the south of our place.

Saturday morning- The water is a good way away from the banks of the dyke.

This morning- the channel close to the dyke now has water flowing, although that dyke where I am standing is a good 10 ft. above the water level.
 So far, so good. However, now that the water is piling up here- downstream is going to be in trouble. With warm weather and possible rain/snow in the forecast, there are evacuation alerts in effect for those who live close to the river banks. We are fortunate to be on higher ground, although the bottom end of the horse pasture could get wet the girls do have high ground in their pen, as does Beamer.

Here is what it looks like downstream from us. Remember I mentioned the 10 ft. dyke? Well that this is how close to the top it is down there:

This is looking back upstream towards our place. If all that water and ice lets go, those last few feet of dyke won't hold the tremendous force of water on the move. Just downstream from this is the bridge on hiway 21 which goes down to Idaho. 

The department of fisheries and oceans is monitoring the situation, as it is a waterways issue. If everything lets go, and ice builds up it could take out that bridge so they have heavy equipment on standby. The next few days could be interesting here.