NOAA’s National Weather Service has warned (7.6.2011) that many rivers in the upper Midwest and northern Plains remain above flood stage and flooding will likely continue throughout the summer for these regions.  With many forecasters predicting that severe weather events could become the new normal, the health of our nation’s floodplains is fast becoming our top environmental challenge. Healthy, functioning floodplains perform ecological services that are virtually impossible to artificially duplicate. Water absorption, storage and filtration, flood energy dissipation, and important habitat for fish and wildlife are the kinds of services provided by broad, undeveloped floodplains.  More via http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/20110706_floodthreat.html