PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (CA) Field crews measuring high flows in northern California

Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2022 15:02:26 EST

Summary: Continued rainfall causing minor flooding in parts of northern California

Northern California received near continuous rainfall over the last seven days, exceeding 10 inches in several areas, most of which fell over the last 3 days. Rainfall is expected to continue through most of today, causing many streamgages to peak today. The sustained rainfall has caused streamgages to reach levels not measured in several years due to drought, but none are expected to reach period of record extremes. Throughout northern California, many USGS gages are at action level, at least 5 are at minor flood stage, and 2 are at moderate flood stage.

Five field offices of the CA WSC deployed 15 crews, totaling 31 staff, to measure discharge and, at a few sites, sample sediment. The basins being measured include: Eel, Klamath, Cosumnes, Russian, tribs to the Sacramento, several coastal streams, and streams around Lake Tahoe.

Rain is expected to continue through most of today, potentially requiring additional field measurements at select gages tomorrow.