# The flooded disaster that is Tulare Lake in California’s Central Valley **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 30, 2023, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flooded-disaster-that-is-tulare-lake-in-california-s-central-valley/983363 "2023-04-30T05:50:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2024, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flooded-disaster-that-is-tulare-lake-in-california-s-central-valley/983363/81 "2024-03-03T01:23:01Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > For now. Tulare Lake 2: Just when you thought it was safe, goes back the water. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2024, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flooded-disaster-that-is-tulare-lake-in-california-s-central-valley/983363/82 "2024-03-03T01:31:01Z")
Part of Death Valley also flooded recently. I saw news footage of people kayaking in that foot-deep, brackish water. I also anticipate seeing pictures of massive desert blooms in the days to come. Interestingly, the Salton Sea hasn’t changed much, level-wise. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2024, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flooded-disaster-that-is-tulare-lake-in-california-s-central-valley/983363/83 "2024-03-03T05:51:34Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Tulare Lake 2:… …Hydraulic Boogaloo ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2024, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flooded-disaster-that-is-tulare-lake-in-california-s-central-valley/983363/84 "2024-03-03T22:04:47Z")
🤣 I just wet my pants! ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flooded-disaster-that-is-tulare-lake-in-california-s-central-valley/983363/85 "2024-03-04T06:21:52Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Part of Death Valley also flooded recently. I saw news footage of people kayaking in that foot-deep, brackish water. I also anticipate seeing pictures of massive desert blooms in the days to come. > > Interestingly, the Salton Sea hasn’t changed much, level-wise. I was just there in Death Valley last month. Lake Manly, as it is called, is huge considering it is almost dry. But it’s nowhere near the size of Tulare Lake of 2023. This is my car in Badwater Basin next to Lake Manly. The circle on the left is mile marker 18, 18 miles south of Furnace Creek Inn. I took that pic to compare for when I return next. The Salton Sea, well, that’s another story. [![](https://i.imgur.com/LmO4Ey1.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/LmO4Ey1.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flooded-disaster-that-is-tulare-lake-in-california-s-central-valley/983363/86 "2024-03-04T06:29:21Z")
The above pic was taken roughly here on the map: [https://maps.app.goo.gl/WysMALYrAEdRjDTP9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/WysMALYrAEdRjDTP9) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flooded-disaster-that-is-tulare-lake-in-california-s-central-valley/983363/87 "2024-03-04T18:39:10Z")
Great pic, @Bullitt . Thanks for posting it. I haven’t been to Death Valley in ages, but I’ve never see that much water in that area. Cool to see. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flooded-disaster-that-is-tulare-lake-in-california-s-central-valley/983363/88 "2024-03-31T02:20:42Z")
On our drive from San Francisco to Los Angeles the other day we stopped by the formerly flooded Tulare Lake, and amazingly it is gone! They are tilling the soil and getting it ready for crops. In a few months it’ll be green. Amazing. I thought it would take _years_ for the flood waters to recede, but in less than one year it is dry. It’s a visual shocker that shows how much water our crops need. There’s a little remaining water on the east side, but we did not see that because we were on the west side. Here are some pictures comparing one year ago and this week. Last year — flooded (note the circle): [![](https://i.imgur.com/sLYs04s.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/sLYs04s.jpg) This week — dry (note the circle): [![](https://i.imgur.com/CnSNqic.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/CnSNqic.jpg) Last year — flooded (note the 2 circles): [![](https://i.imgur.com/Wy9tmx8.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/Wy9tmx8.jpeg) This week — dry (note the 2 circles): [![](https://i.imgur.com/DYXn185.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/DYXn185.jpeg) Other pics, wet and dry. Last year I had the white Jeep. This year I have a green outback — [![](https://i.imgur.com/HmZ7A2G.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/HmZ7A2G.jpg) [![](https://i.imgur.com/WAiVUX1.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/WAiVUX1.jpg) [![](https://i.imgur.com/u7VsN04.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/u7VsN04.jpeg) [![](https://i.imgur.com/aJTjnNk.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/aJTjnNk.jpeg) [![](https://i.imgur.com/XpgsR0e.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/XpgsR0e.jpeg) My Tulare Lake pictures to date, from 4 separate visits: ◆ Tulare Lake 2023-04-23 — 1st visit, flooded ➜ [[Album] Tulare Lake 2023-04-23 — 1st visit, flooded ![](https://i.imgur.com/858soLH.jpeg?fb "Tulare Lake 2023-04-23 — 1st visit, flooded") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/xrzw0NX) ◆ Tulare Lake 2023-04-28 — 2nd visit, includes Corcoran CA ➜ [[Album] Tulare Lake 2023-04-28 — 2nd visit, includes Corcoran CA ![](https://i.imgur.com/gUeuqix.jpeg?fb "Tulare Lake 2023-04-28 — 2nd visit, includes Corcoran CA") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/f0I1KPC) ◆ Tulare Lake 2023-06-18 — 3rd visit, a hot summer day ➜ [[Album] Tulare Lake 2023-06-18 — 3rd visit, a hot summer day ![](https://i.imgur.com/mKkV8lM.jpeg?fb "Tulare Lake 2023-06-18 — 3rd visit, a hot summer day") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/jfqwlgw) ◆ Tulare Lake 2024-03-27 — 4th visit, floodwaters have dried up ➜ [[Album] Tulare Lake 2024-03-27 — 4th visit, floodwaters have dried up ![](https://i.imgur.com/Emc3TfR.jpeg?fb "Tulare Lake 2024-03-27 — 4th visit, floodwaters have dried up") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/0XgE19H) I am amazed by the flood of Tulare Lake. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flooded-disaster-that-is-tulare-lake-in-california-s-central-valley/983363/89 "2024-03-31T12:30:53Z")
This is an article from the San Francisco Chronicle and this link should get you through the paywall. [**The ‘phantom’ lake that engulfed California’s Central Valley is gone. But the toll lingers** ; After growing to nearly the size of Lake Tahoe last year, Tulare Lake is almost gone.](https://sfchronicle.com/california/article/tulare-lake-gone-18679079.php?utm_campaign=CMS%20Sharing%20Tools%20(Premium)&utm_source=share-by-email&utm_medium=email) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2024, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flooded-disaster-that-is-tulare-lake-in-california-s-central-valley/983363/90 "2024-03-31T12:50:49Z")
From that article, at its max in the spring of 2023, the flooded lake was approx 185 sq mi. Lake Tahoe is 191 sq mi. Many roads are still too water-logged to reopen, and some levees need repair after being breached or weakened. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flooded-disaster-that-is-tulare-lake-in-california-s-central-valley/983363.md?page=4)