I suspect you might have heard of California’s Oroville dam by now. If not…wait a few days. I really should have painted that spillway actually, it’s like Niagara Falls by now.

This is the picturesque spillway of Elmer J. Chesboro Dam, built in 1955 and named for a local doctor and president of the water district, local reservoir of choice for me. Two weeks ago when we got 18 inches of rain in a week, I went out there to assess the likelihood that the dam would overtop, not entirely impossible at the time. Fortunately very aggressive water releases by the water district (Kudos!) have maintained the reservoir at safe levels. Of course, the spillway, as you can see is nicely functional, set against solid rock (the green serpentine cut), the walls are braced against solid ground, well maintained concrete that is reinforced with rebar etc. Oroville dam apparently has none of these things. It’s also much bigger, and perched over the state capital like a watery sword of Damocles. I’m skeptical about NOAA’s estimates of rainfall from the classic pineapple express atmospheric setup that comes in tomorrow, and also their temperature forecast, particularly since they’ve been underforcasting rainfall in northern california all year, consistently. It’ll be a close shave for Oroville in the best case.

As I drive around here in the South Bay, I see signs on people’s fences and in their windows saying ‘Pray for Rain’. Remember when there was this great California drought? Well guys, you can stop praying now, please?

Nice knowing you, Sacramento, Stockton, Mountain View, the Internet, and stuff. It’s time to party like it’s 1862. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fl…

Rains aren’t going to be done for months yet.

Comic Link…too serious to joke about I guess.