California, Sherman Island, on north shore of Sacramento Delta, levee
Almost 5 years of drought, now combined with recent rainfall-induced flooding, has weakened California’s levees. Culprits are soil cracking that allows water seepage, soil-strength reduction, land subsidence and erosion, all of which NWNL observed on its California Spotlight expeditions in 2014 and 2015. Fifty-five percent of California’s levee systems are now in danger of failing in the event of a flood or an earthquake. If the levees fail, water quality could be compromised for over 23 million people.
Levees are sand and clay earthen embankments which regulate water levels and protect dry land from floods. More research, risk science, community education and stakeholder collaboration are crucial to improving levee resilience.
No Water No Life® is an LLC project founded in 2006 to raise awareness of the values and vulnerability of our freshwater resources, plus solutions to their sustainable management. NWNL Director and lead photographer Alison M Jones is Sr Fellow of International League of Conservation Photographers and International League of Conservation Writers, a Fellow of The Explorers Club, and member of North American Nature Photography Assoc., Society of Environmental Journalists, Tewksbury Land Trust Board (NJ), and other related organizations.
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One thought on “Drought and Flooding increases CA Levees risk of failure”
How prescient Alison, as you have now heard, I am sure, of the massive damage todaymfrom mudslides on Highway 5. Your warning to take heed arrived along with NOAA’s reiteration yesterday that California will experience big rains this winter from the powerful El Niño that has developed.
How prescient Alison, as you have now heard, I am sure, of the massive damage todaymfrom mudslides on Highway 5. Your warning to take heed arrived along with NOAA’s reiteration yesterday that California will experience big rains this winter from the powerful El Niño that has developed.
Carol and I send our love,
Larry
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