The ongoing flooding of the Mississippi River could put a monkey wrench in the City of Galesburg's plans to build a new water treatment plant, but city officials say that's likely not to happen.

Work is already starting south of Oquawka to replace the city's water plant along the Mississippi River, and there is some flooding along that part of the Mississippi, but not at the point of places like the Quad Cities.

Galesburg Public Works Director Larry Cox tells WGIL the flooding won't hamper construction of the new plant, nor will it stop operation of the current plant.  "The wells that we have are in the flood plain, and there will be some work on the wells as part of the project," said Cox.  "That will be toward the end of the project, and hopefully we won't have any flooding issues at the time that could slow up that work.  (The construction crews) will be able to do, probably, 90% or more of the work up here on dry land."

In fact, city officials say if there were any significant flooding, they say the city's filters would be able to withstand it.  They say it did during the Great Flood of 1993, and very well would this time as well.

Speaking of Oquawka, a sand barrier blocks access to a riverfront park there that is partially flooded.