Flooding II. Sacramento, California opus 863
| 13 June 2026 1342 Hours | | History, Behavior, Climate, Current Events, Custom, Environment, Geology, Population |
California has had seven trial and permanent capitols.
Sacramento was the final area decided upon.
Native Americans reportedly questioned, "Why there?"
It was surrounded by a swamp, flooded in the winter.
And it was constantly plagued by mosquitoes!
Indeed, the whole town was raised by filling in the roads and first floors!
A deep swale remains, showing the original topography.
Tours today show some of the buried first floors.
Sacramento is so flood-prone that it ranks second only to New Orleans.
(San Francisco was an 'emergency capitol' from the 1862 Great Flood.)
There are 1,100 miles of levees, built in the early 1900s.
There is constant seepage, erosion, and potential structural failure.
The levees must hold not only during storms but 24/7 all year.
With Climate Change, there is a constant risk of catastrophic 'megafloods.'
Millions of inhabitants depend on critical infrastructure.
Much of Sacramento (Natomas and the Pocket)
Are below the adjacent river's water line.
With the right conditions, the city would be underwater by 10 feet.
The local International Airport would be under 15 feet of water.
Five hundred thousand people are in the direct path in this area.
Huge efforts have also been made here to modernize.
It is only a matter of time before such a catastrophe occurs.