The Endless Winter

The Sacramento skyline viewed across the flooded Yolo Bypass

Sacramento has become Seattle!! It is March 22nd and it seems like it has rained almost everyday this month. I think we may have had only 4 or 5 dry days in the last 3 weeks. March is normally a transition to spring but this year it is still the middle of winter.

Sacramento is at 118% of normal for rainfall and the snow pack in the Sierra is at 146% to date. More rain/snow is predicted this week. Will it ever end?!

Today, we caught a brief one day break and I wanted to see the water in the Yolo Bypass and the high flows along the Sacramento River.

Herb, Dick, Don and I hopped on our bikes and rode to Davis crossing the I-80 Causeway over the "inland sea". The dams of Shasta, Oroville, and Folsom were letting out so much water the weirs along the Sacramento River were over-flowing creating an inland sea in the Bypass.

Later in the day, Don and I rode up Old River Road in West Sacramento to check out the Sacramento Weir and the high flowing river.

Click on pic for enlarged view

The lads appreciating a sunny day, a rarity this month

Dick, Don and Herb at the east-end of the Causeway viewing the inland sea

We rode the bike path on the I-80 Causeway to Davis

I-80 Freeway crossing the inland sea

The Fazio Wildlife Refuge is under water

The weirs below Old River Road in West Sacramento

Water from the Sacramento River flowing into a channel leading to the Bypass

When the river is approaching flood stage, the weirs are opened to divert excess water into the Yolo Bypass, a vast 60,000 acre leveed flood plain west of Sacramento . This flood control safety-valve is a life-saver for the urban areas along the lower Sacramento River.

Don gazing across the swollen Sac River

Backyard under water and river lapping under the deck of this home along the Garden Hwy.
Note boat parked in garage. Owners ready for a quick get-away should the river rise higher.

Gazebo and backyard under water

Grove of trees in W. Sac has become a mangrove forest

Broderick boat launch and parking lot under water

No BBQ today!

Amtrak train crossing the I-Street Bridge

The end of the bike path on the River Walk

The Delta King riding high on the river

The gangplanks act like scissors to rise and fall with the river

Minimal freeboard under the Tower Bridge

Fishing from the steps

Al fresco diners at Joe's Crab Shak get a ring-side seat of the swollen river

River Walk in W. Sac

Capitol Mall high-rises . . . safe for now

W. Sac high-rises

Raley's Landing partially submerged

Don on the Tower Bridge

End of a very interesting day . . .