As Sierra foothills residents pick up the pieces from last storm, more rain is on way
As a stormy sky gave way to sunshine on Friday, the damage left behind by this week's rain was felt throughout the Sierra foothills.
Flash floods from heavy storms destroyed several street sections 40 miles east of Modesto, where two large washouts also wiped out domestic water pipes under roads, leaving up to 250 Lake Don Pedro homes without tap water.
More rain is in the forecast for Saturday and possibly Sunday.
Meanwhile, water levels in the Tuolumne River surged higher than was announced Thursday, but the river receded by late Friday afternoon.
Still, the Turlock Irrigation District announced Friday afternoon that it had been increasing flows from Don Pedro Reservoir since the early morning, and increases in the current would be seen in Modesto by early Saturday, peaking by Sunday. By Friday afternoon, the river level remained a safe 10 feet below flood stage level, and no flooding was in the forecast.
The additional water being released from Don Pedro upstream was to make room in the reservoir for a sudden increase in rain, melting snow from the mountains and water from a stressed Moccasin Dam.
Water levels at the reservoir had risen by nearly 8 feet since Thursday.
While the storm was relatively light in Modesto — downtown received 0.38 inches since Tuesday — Yosemite National Park recorded 5.29 inches of rain Wednesday and Thursday.
In the foothills, the Lake Don Pedro Community Services District rushed to fix its domestic water system, but was not expected to restore water service soon. From 50 to 250 homes were without water, the district said on its Facebook page, where dramatic photos of washed-out roads were posted.
The district cautioned residents that once water is restored, to wait for the go-ahead to use it. Contaminants can get into broken pipes. Bottled drinking water was available at the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Department substation at 3720 Merced Falls Road in La Grange.
Meanwhile, roads continued to be a big problem.
Someone Thursday night apparently drove around barricades in a large pickup and plunged into a deep washed-out area on Ranchito Drive, with the truck coming to rest on the driver's side. The driver's condition is unknown.
"We can only barricade the road. It's not like the signs say, 'Hey, if you drive through here, you're going to drop into a 10-foot sinkhole,' " said Pete Kampa, general manager of the Lake Don Pedro district.
The other washout destroyed a section of Laredo Drive.
Stanislaus County officials said those planning to attend the La Grange Rodeo will have to find an alternate route if they had been planning to take La Grange Road. The roadway will be closed the next two weeks due to structural damage at Dry Creek Bridge.
Tim Bell Road at Hazel Dean Road west of the Modesto Reservoir also was closed due to flooding, according to the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department.
Although there was little impact on the valley floor, Eastin Road, between Anderson Road and Stuhr Road south of Crows Landing, was closed temporarily due to rising waters from Orestimba Creek.
One driver apparently ignored warning signs and got stuck in water from the swollen creek, the Modesto CHP said in a post on its Facebook page.
Meanwhile, the Moccasin Dam, which officials said was in "imminent danger of failing" on Thursday, appears to be safe for now, the National Weather Service reported Friday afternoon.
The foothills could see another half-inch to inch of rain this weekend, forecasters said. Rain is expected most of Saturday, and then another storm should arrive sometime Sunday.
People in Mariposa County, also hit hard by the storm, should not be alarmed by low-flying aircraft helping law enforcement in flooded areas, Mariposa Sheriff Doug Binnewies said. Mariposa recorded 5.37 inches of rain, The Fresno Bee reported.
Garth Stapley: 209-578-2390
This story was originally published March 23, 2018 at 10:19 AM with the headline "As Sierra foothills residents pick up the pieces from last storm, more rain is on way."