Berm/Levee

This area is part of the Mokelumne River’s natural floodplain. In the past, heavy rains would cause the river to rise and spread out over the land, flooding areas where homes are now built. In 1950, a major flood covered 10,000 acres in Lodi, causing widespread damage and prompting changes in flood management.

The Camanche Dam, completed in 1963, helps control the river’s flow, making it safer to build nearby homes. However, flood risks still exist, and that’s where this levee (a raised concrete or earthen barrier) comes in. It acts as a protective wall, keeping floodwaters away from nearby houses during storms.

If you look beyond the fence, you’ll see backyards that sit nearly at the same level as the nature area. Without this levee, rain and flood waters could easily reach them. As climate change increases the risk of drought and floods, it becomes important to consider proximity to an increasingly unpredictable river when determining municipal building codes. Next time it rains, try to imagine what this land might look like before we built this barrier — completely submerged!