Droughts in California
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The historical and ongoing periodic droughts in California result from various complex meteorological phenomena, some of which are not fully understood by scientists.
A farmer welcoming rain during the 1976 drought.
Drought peak in late July 2014
Dry boat ramp at Folsom Lake, January 2014
In May 2021, water levels of Lake Oroville dropped to 38% of capacity. The boats are dwarfed by the exposed banks while California is headed into another drought year.
Great Flood of 1862
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The Great Flood of 1862 was the largest flood in the recorded history of California, Oregon, and Nevada, inundating the Western United States and portions of British Columbia and Mexico. It was preced
Droughts in California
…severe that a settler's account of the time claimed that the Sonoma area was "entirely unsuitable for agriculture". This drought was preceded by the torrential floods of 1861–1862. This drought encouraged farmers to start using irrigation more regularly. Because of the fluctuation in California weather, the need for consistent…
Lithograph of K Street in the city of Sacramento, California, during the Great Flood of 1862
Sheet music cover depicting Sacramento flooding