(CNN) -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began explosions Monday night at the Birds Point-New Madrid levee at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. The explosions, near the southern border between Missouri and Illinois, marked the start of a three-stage process to intentionally breach the levee -- and, in the process, pave the way for tons of water to flood 130,000 acres of Missouri farmland -- to alleviate pressure caused by historically high water levels in the rivers. At 5 p.m. Monday, the water level outside Cairo, Illinois, was 61.44 feet -- well above the flood stage of 40 feet -- according to the National Weather Service. Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh ordered the intentional breach.
@highlight
NEW: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begins intentionally breaching the levee
@highlight
Water levels near Cairo, Illinois, reach 61.4 feet -- far above the 40-foot flood stage
@highlight
Missouri had tried to block the decision, which will flood productive farmland
He said @placeholder authorities are ready for the blast and subsequent flood.