WHITHER THE SAN GABRIEL RIVER....For centuries, the ever changing San Gabriel River and its tributaries emptied into Alamitos Bay and then into the ocean. Why was this changed? In one word - FLOODING. As more and more of the adjacent land was settled with housing and agricultural lands, this flooding could prove devastating. After the deadly storms of 1914, Congress ordered the installation of flood control districts and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began to construct flood control channels to direct the flood waters. Some channels were built but it was a slow process. The 1938 flood produced some of the highest flows ever recorded in the river and it overflowed its banks inundating many cities from the mountains to the ocean. Once again, major flooding occurred in 1952 to the then agricultural community of Los Alamitos (SEE PHOTO). So eventually over nearly 50 years, a dedicated channel for the San Gabriel River was built all the way to the sea and was separated from Alamitos Bay with a jetty. The photos attached will show the changes in the river and the channel from 1921, when Naples was in its infancy, to today. Please join NAPLES WALKING TOURS in the near future and learn more about this fascinating and unique community!
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 06:57:56 +0000
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