While dramatic, that photo needs some context. Is it of farmland or a flood plain?

With the changes in climate, come significant shifts in seasonal weather patterns.
Back in 2002 it was predicted that the PNW would start trending towards drought in the summer, and wet wet wet winters. Less snow, less snowpack, more flooding.

And here we are. I sure hope farmers can survive, and hopefully plan for the increasing variability. Otherwise our food supply is going to continue take some serious --and eventually permanent-- hits.

@2:

Perhaps local farmers should start transitioning from wheat and apples to rice and cranberries.

What our dear Queen of Sleaze said. The best farmland (like the the Kent valley, before it got urbanized) floods periodically, but too many floods really mess stuff up.

Yes. For all of you recent out-of-staters who just moved to Seattle, this is called a normal winter in the Puget Sound area.

I covered much of this and more in 2011. http://lwtt.blogspot.com/2011/11/action-…

I have to agree with #6. This happens all the time, especially in the Snoqualmie Valley. Until the waters flood North Bend, none of this is unusual (even 4 times a year).