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By Mark Grossi
The Fresno Bee - June 17, 1998
Spring snow melt this week has closed two of the three roads into Yosemite
Valley and spilled over river banks in many Central California areas.
In Yosemite National Park, the Merced River continued to undercut a 100-foot section of road just east of the Highway 140 and Highway 120 junction. The roads are expected to remain closed today while damage is assessed.
"Highway 41 is still open and busy," park spokesman Al Nash said. "You can still drive between 140 and 120, but you can't get into the valley. "
The damaged section had been hit hard during the record flood of 1997 in Yosemite. It had been temporarily repaired, and permanent repairs were scheduled for this fall.
The Merced River flooding has left about two dozen campsites under water in Yosemite Valley, Nash said. The campers have been moved to other sites.
In the San Joaquin Valley, the Kings River has flowed over at least two campgrounds near Reedley. One recreational area, Lindy's Landing, is submerged, and Royal Oak Resort is 75% under water.
Allan Goff, director of Tulare County Parks and Recreation, said Kings water levels continue to rise in other areas.
Goff halted river recreation this month in Tulare County.
Goff said he will tour the area Friday, assess how safe the region is and open the area as soon as possible.
Elsewhere in the South Valley, snow melt continues to drain into Tulare Lake Basin.
As much as a third of the dry lake bed has water, federal officials estimated.
On the San Joaquin River, flood releases have not caused problems yet, officials said.
Tony Buelna, Friant operations chief for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, said he expects farm demand for irrigation water to pick up in the coming weeks and consume more of runoff.
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