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The Rocks Are Still There
What happened to the rocks of the shut-ins?
The rocks of Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park have long been a popular destination, attracting visitors from across Missouri, the country and around the world.
When the Taum Sauk reservoir breach sent more than one billion gallons of water through the park and the shut-ins, many must have wondered what it did to the shut-ins. Aerial and close-up photographs showed the devastation in the campground and surrounding area. Were the rocks buried under several feet of trees and sand like much of the park?
After the flood, muddy water and debris traveled through the shut-ins.
For some time after the flood, water flowing through the shut-ins was muddy, similar to the color of chocolate milk. Rushing water dropped pockets of gravel and small boulders. A few boulders show rough sides and sharp edges, signs of a fresh break. But the rocks are still there.
The huge amount of water made this flood different.
The shut-ins is a narrow gorge between two steep, erosion-resistant mountains. In a normal flood, trees are often pulled from the riverbank and carried downstream, where they get caught up in the rocks. But this flood was different. The sheer volume of water caused a backup. Some debris settled out before reaching the shut-ins. The rest was carried high and fast over the rocks and downstream. Only a few trees were caught up in the rocks. For some time to come, gravel will move in and out of the shut-ins with each heavy rain.
The rocks of the shut-ins are still there.
Water still swirls through potholes, plunge pools and chutes, polishing the already-sculpted rocks. When you next visit the shut-ins, take a moment to look and listen and know that the Johnson’s shut-ins remains one of the best in Missouri.
