This story in today’s Bee informs us of what most of us know, the Parkway is flooding and eroding farther every day the 35,000 cubic feet per second releases from the dam continue to open space in Folsom Lake, for the run-off from any new storms approaching.
Saw a bunch of wild turkeys walking around a neighborhood this morning quite a way from their home on the Parkway and who can blame them right now, it’s really muddy and fast flowing out there and not much use for humans or critters. Here are some excerpts.
“While some area residents are saddled with flooded homes and yards, many others are flocking to area waterways simply to marvel and gawk and point at all that power, now barely contained. The American River, far higher and faster than normal, has become a draw since the holiday season.
“People in slickers and galoshes have made it to the river's banks for a close-up look, talking about trees now under water, fishing spots that used to be, little islands completely submerged, all the debris floating in the now-murky water.
“Sightings of people actually in the high water are few and far between with the river rushing at approximately 35,000 cubic feet per second, though a kayaker was spotted Wednesday in Fair Oaks and a fisherman wading waist-deep in the water near the Nimbus Dam's 14 open gates had to be told by authorities to get out.
"There's no way I would be in the water now. It's just way too dangerous," said Jim Jones, a longtime local fisherman who has put his fishing gear away until the waters calm down.
… “Nearby, Bernard Hattig, 54, parked his mountain bike near the Nimbus fish hatchery ladder and looked out at the water, faster and louder - and muddier - than he's used to.
"It's pretty impressive seeing Mother Nature acting up," he said. "You can see the definite chocolate color of the water, which shows it's definitely a flood. The river is known for being so clear, so there's a lot of erosion happening."
“Michael Keck and girlfriend Lisa Nelson decided to take a lunchtime stroll to view the American River.
"Wow, it's pretty high and pretty muddy," said Keck. "It's going to take awhile to clear up."
I'll say!
