In 1997, California was devastated by historic floods
If you lived in the Bay Area during the winter of 1996-1997, one memory probably jumps to mind: flooding. Much like this year, the week of New Year’s started out stormy. And the rain didn’t stop. For a week, California was inundated, and its rivers and creeks rose. On Jan. 1, 1997, catastrophe struck Sonoma County. The Russian River burst its banks, cresting at 45 feet, well over its flood stage of 34 feet. (This week, the river is forecast to hit about 36 feet.) … In Oroville, there were evacuations amid fears a dam on the Feather River was about to overflow, while people living along creeks and streams around the Bay Area were forced to find higher ground as water seeped into backyards and homes. In Fresno, Millerton Lake spilled over the Friant Dam, sending millions of gallons of water down the San Joaquin River, wreaking havoc on homes and bridges in its path.