That's the rate it can be pumped out. It can't seep out, or reced naturally. Everything flooded is at the natural water level for that part of the planet.
The entire flooded area is inside a levee "ring", and once the levee system is closed, the water can be pumped out of it.
That makes sense about the pumping and water levels. The article clearly said seep though. If you go to FOXNews.com and click on the headline "We Don't Have Help" it will take you to that article. Since I am computer challenged, I have trouble with taking parts of articles and sticking them in here.