‘Looking more promising.’ Floodwaters receding in many Sacramento-area rivers, creeks

Emergency officials are finally expressing optimism about Sacramento-area rivers and creeks.

The Cosumnes and Mokelumne rivers south of Elk Grove are both predicted to remain in a flood monitor stage at least through the weekend, falling comfortably short of flooding. The Cosumnes, in particular, has been a focus for state and local water officials who have repaired thousands of feet of private levees and dispatched multiple flood fighting teams to the area.

Three more storms are expected to hit the state over the next week, a forecast that provides some uncertainty to the long-range outlook for waterways like the Cosumnes.

“However, things are looking more promising (along the Cosumnes) than they were over the New Year’s storms,” said Jeremy Arrich, manager of the state Department of Water Resources’ division of flood management.

Three people were killed in south Sacramento County when they were swept away by floodwaters. Several small communities around Wilton were evacuated.

On Tuesday, Sacramento County officials lifted a mandatory evacuation order for the Wilton area, but warned residents to be on the lookout for localized flooding.

The outlook for other rivers in the region also looks promising.

The Sacramento River at the I Street Bridge is expected to fall just short of flood monitor stage this weekend. As a result, state water officials do not expect to open the Sacramento Weir, a relief valve that diverts water from the Sacramento and American rivers into the Yolo Bypass upstream of downtown Sacramento. Water is flowing over four of the five other weirs on the Sacramento River, including the Fremont Weir that connects to the Yolo Bypass just north of the county, according to gauge.

Major reservoirs are benefiting from the rain. Lake Oroville has risen 85 feet since December, but is still at just 46% of capacity and 85% of its normal level for this time of year. Shasta, the state’s largest reservoir, has seen its water level increase by more than 20% since last month.

This story was originally published January 10, 2023 at 5:10 PM.