Snow began to fall New Year’s Eve, 2022, and has continued off and on since then. This is my backyard filled with snow, broken limbs, sagging bushes and a gorgeous sunrise. The Pine Nuts Range is visible in the distant background. This is what January 2 looked like. Remember: This snow all has to go someplace.January 17, 2023. Lake Stephanie has begun to form. We call it that because Stephanie Way (to the left out of the photo) is one of the main streets to get into the Johnson Lane area. It is created each year we have run off from the Pine Nuts. Interestingly enough, there are no snow telemetry instruments in the Pine Nuts. Ergo, we do not know how much snow is in the mountain range. We are concerned as we know there is too much snow to be totally absorbed into the ground.It has begun. Warm rains have melted a lot of snow and Lake Stephanie has begun to breach its bank (Stephanie Way). There is no way to control it, save a million sandbags.I turned around from the previous photo to watch a torrent of water rush into a gated community that is a mere 250 yards from my house. This is usually an area where people walk on a paved path that circumvents the gated community. I am positive those houses beyond the second fence were flooded to some degree.This is Heybourne Road, normally a dirt road that connects Stephanie Way to Johnson Lane. I am pretty sure this water is at least 12 to 18″ deep as this is the western side of Lake Stephanie. All of this is a natural drainage path from the Pine Nuts that would naturally drain to the Carson River. But streets, a railroad bed, sometimes willy-nilly construction have all contributed to the natural drainage being dammed. Meetings have been held, solutions discussed and few actual projects have actually been accomplished. At least we do not have to worry about this much snow and runoff. This is down south near Mammoth that has also had near record or record snow. I’m very glad I don’t have to shovel that snow! As I look at these pictures and marvel at nature and its power, I wonder what my uncle, the flood control expert, would have said and done about our situation.
Oh my, I see you are really getting deluged by this winter’s atmospheric rivers. I think your territory, even with weather disasters, is more beautiful than the sea level version of the same weather. I am tired of the gray-sky-no-sun days here.
FYI, a local SAC TV News station recorded a video of the water outflow at Folsom Dam last week (link below). Folsom Dam is about 8 miles from our address. But we’ve had no flooding or water issues in our local neighborhood.
We are entertained by a bit of winter wildlife that hangs out in our yard. And since I’m fairly homebound by immobility, I write about what I see. And although I don’t have beautiful photos to share, here are my poem thoughts for you.
We constantly talk with “old timers” here in the Valley, some who’ve lived here all of their 65+ years, and none can remember so much snow continuously with low temperatures not allowing melting. Many of these planned communities/neighborhoods haven’t had the data background to anticipate flooding. Here in Genoa they have, around the Carson River and we made sure that we ourselves purchased our land/home above the “flood zone”. Yet, the accumulation of snow on our acreage has caused us to constantly dig out a path for the melting/rain water to run into our pond…which is now full again. Thank you for posting this blog. I’m not sure how many of us who have been house-bound realize that we are not the only ones with downed limbs/trees, snow banks and flooding. Keep safe!
buzzardnotes 
WOW!! That is a LOT of snow and a lot of water!! Great pix!!
Spring is coming……..soon, we hope!!!
Barbara Allen barblallen@mac.com cell: 714.329.8131
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Hi Cora!
Oh my, I see you are really getting deluged by this winter’s atmospheric rivers. I think your territory, even with weather disasters, is more beautiful than the sea level version of the same weather. I am tired of the gray-sky-no-sun days here.
FYI, a local SAC TV News station recorded a video of the water outflow at Folsom Dam last week (link below). Folsom Dam is about 8 miles from our address. But we’ve had no flooding or water issues in our local neighborhood.
We are entertained by a bit of winter wildlife that hangs out in our yard. And since I’m fairly homebound by immobility, I write about what I see. And although I don’t have beautiful photos to share, here are my poem thoughts for you.
The weather is crazy this year! So glad to hear you are still dry.
Stay safe😉
We constantly talk with “old timers” here in the Valley, some who’ve lived here all of their 65+ years, and none can remember so much snow continuously with low temperatures not allowing melting. Many of these planned communities/neighborhoods haven’t had the data background to anticipate flooding. Here in Genoa they have, around the Carson River and we made sure that we ourselves purchased our land/home above the “flood zone”. Yet, the accumulation of snow on our acreage has caused us to constantly dig out a path for the melting/rain water to run into our pond…which is now full again. Thank you for posting this blog. I’m not sure how many of us who have been house-bound realize that we are not the only ones with downed limbs/trees, snow banks and flooding. Keep safe!
Good grief! I do hope the area gets out of this without much damage! Love, Angel
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