Rain, Erosion and a Dam

With the past couple weeks of rainstorms, our region has seen the effects of large amounts of water on a drought-stricken land. We are witnesses to the power of water.

• Santa Cruz has been hit hard with the recent rains. The area of La Honda experienced landslides that ripped up a road and caused millions of dollars of damage. The areas affected by last year's fire have been placed on careful watch. Learn more about landslides and rainfall's effects on them from the USGS.

• Of course, drivers have to put up with the erosion that is taking place under the roads, especially with heavy rainfall. Potholes are causing hazardous driving conditions and damage to cars all over the Bay Area.

• The Oroville Dam, the tallest in the country, suffered serious damage to one of its spillways. The spillway, a pathway for water to be diverted so the reservoir's water does not flow over the dam and damage it, has not been used since the late 1960s.