San Joaquin River overflows into Catfish Camp RV park; water levels still expected to rise

Vivienne Aguilar
·1 min read
7

Residents of Catfish Camp RV park have likely gone to the Turlock Fairgrounds for shelter as water levels for the San Joaquin River continue to rise, sheriff’s Deputy Raj Singh, a spokesman for the county Office of Emergency Services, said Thursday.

The San Joaquin sat at 65.37 feet as of Thursday afternoon, and the flooding stage is 69.4 feet, according to the National Weather Service’s observations in Newman. This area is expected to rise over the weekend.

San Joaquin River at Las Palmas bridge in Patterson, Calif., Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
San Joaquin River at Las Palmas bridge in Patterson, Calif., Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

“The water level went to where we thought it would be, so the evacuation orders will probably stay for a few weeks because of the snowpack,” Singh said.

If you’ve suffered any level of storm and flood damage, take the Individual Public Assistance Survey for Stanislaus County. A similar survey went out during the major storms in January, but FEMA was unable to send resources to homeowners due to lack of resident participation.

The county is hoping this doesn’t happen again.

“It’s not that damage wasn’t significant, but not enough people were filling out the survey,” Singh said. “We went door to door, but unfortunately people aren’t taking the few minutes to fill out the forms.”

Raymond Washburn looks out at the rising San Joaquin River from his home on Ash Avenue in Patterson, Calif., Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Raymond Washburn looks out at the rising San Joaquin River from his home on Ash Avenue in Patterson, Calif., Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Catfish Camp RV park has been flooded by the San Joaquin River in Crow Landing, Calif., Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Catfish Camp RV park has been flooded by the San Joaquin River in Crow Landing, Calif., Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Some residents living on Ash Avenue have been flooded by the San Joaquin River in Patterson, Calif., Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Some residents living on Ash Avenue have been flooded by the San Joaquin River in Patterson, Calif., Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Horse stables on Old Las Palmas Avenue are underwater after the San Joaquin River flooded it banks in Patterson, Calif., Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Horse stables on Old Las Palmas Avenue are underwater after the San Joaquin River flooded it banks in Patterson, Calif., Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Catfish Camp RV park has been flooded by the San Joaquin River in Crow Landing, Calif., Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
Catfish Camp RV park has been flooded by the San Joaquin River in Crow Landing, Calif., Wednesday, March 22, 2023.