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Water Management Paying Dividends at Cooper River Park in South Jersey

By David Madden

COLLINGSWOOD, N.J. (CBS) --  With all the rain we've had around here this week, some wonder why there hasn't been a lot more flooding.

The answer, in some cases, is water management.

This morning at Cooper River Park, the geese were having a ball in the impromptu ponds that formed along the banks in the wake of a midmorning deluge.

But the river itself is fine, because workers have shut gates that allow water to flow freely, allowing an under-23 team from the Vesper Club to get in some practice (see photo) here.

Madeline Davis, the team's manager, says they had to switch to a plan B.

"The Schuylkill's flooded and there's too much debris in the water, and flow's too high to get good racing done," she explains.

By contrast the Cooper River was well below flood stage when they arrived.  And even the threat of a pop-up storm won't stop this crew from getting in a workout.

Still, there are concerns here in the park about potential flash flooding, which no amount of management can stop.

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