California Levee Failures: 6000 BC to 2000 AD.

On a recent site inspection, we noted that flood fighters had sand bagged an area near Shanghai Bend, at the point where the levee had failed in 1955.

On the ground and after the flood, the sand boils were not obvious.

The boils were very small

Still, the land sale goes on

Following the 1955 flood the area around Shanghai bend was partially repaired. Since then the area has been a favorite for land development, with over 150 new homes built there since 1989.

Flood insurance is not required, the realtors will tell you, though they don't mention the mandatory evacuations when the river rises. Life insurance isn't required, either, though it might be wise to have it.

Lance Williams' San Francisco Examiner article
Air photos of the Marysville area, before and after flooding
USGS topographic and levee failure map
Land developments
Geological history of levee weak spots
Similar problems near Pajaro
How the bible provides an early prediction of levee failures
Mechanics of levee failures
Sinkholes and sand boils
Shanghai Bend: past and future
Preventing levee failures
Author

Questions or Comments?