The Army Corps of Engineers offered some good news Thursday as the Missouri River floodfight winds down.

John Bertino of the Omaha Division says the Missouri is already back within its banks near Pierre and Bismark, SD.   He says there’s some water over the banks in Sioux City, IA, but river water in elevated areas there are back in the channel.  At Rulo, NE, the river is expected to return to its normal channel by the end of September.

Officials estimate another two weeks or so before Kansas City and St Joseph see the river retreat to its normal channel.  That’s roughly the second week in October.

As always, Corps officials say all of this could change if weather conditions take a turn for the worse.

Sandbags are starting to come down in Parkville as the Missouri River continues to retreat back within its banks.

The move comes after Parkville city leaders voted this week to take down the barriers, which have been in place for nearly three months.  Officials plan to use the sand along the trails in English Landing Park and will give away some of the sand for free on Tuesday near City Hall.