The Mississippi River finally crested in Lincoln County this week, and as the water levels drop the towns of Winfield, Old Monroe, and north O'Fallon are finally seeing some relief.

Much of the three to five miles of plains between the Mississippi and Highway 79 has been filled in with water, and several dozen deer can be seen hiding in the few remaining dry spots.

Farmers have converted driveways into boat docks, and some small roads such as Dalbow have completely flooded (see Picture 6 for a comparison of the river height from last week to this week).

A final levee at Winfield broke last weekend, flooding a few miles of Highway 79 from Winfield to Old Monroe, but besides areas near the brimming Cuivre River, those on the other side of the highway will be safe as the water recedes.