Officials at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge say flooding from the Missouri River caused about $3 million in damage. That led to the park temporarily closing. Typically the park sees hundreds of thousands of visitors.

Flooding at the park in Missouri Valley Park tore down massive trees, split roads and dropped sand everywhere. Rushing water also carved new channels, with some being 25 feet deep and a third of a mile long.

The flooding will cause park officials to look for new ways to attract more wildlife. Wildlife refuge manager Tom Cox tells KETV in Omaha the refuge managers are looking at new ways to manage the land and attract more wildlife. That could include making changes to the grassland, forest and wetland regions of the park.

Despite the flooding, DeSoto’s visitors’ center will be back because its exhibits are safe.

Early estimates show the park fully re-opening sometime next spring.