Broken Gate Sends Water Wall Down River
A broken release gate at a Sierra Nevada reservoir sent a wall of water down the Middle Fork of the American River on Thursday, though authorities said it dissipated before it caused any apparent damage or injuries.
The sudden release of water from Ralston Reservoir, southeast of Auburn, Calif., sent a “wall of water 3 to 4 feet high” down the river, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Tom Marshall.
Authorities in helicopters warned people nearby to move to higher ground. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning. Authorities warned campers in riverside sites to evacuate and monitored the muddy water as it approached Highway 49, a major road through the Sierra foothills.
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