California history has taught that when record Sierra rain storms occur, some of the biggest flood damage is just below dams such as Friant. In 1997, a flood damaged trailers and property at a Madera County trailer park on the edge of the river. It could have been worse, but ironically, huge gravel pits upstream lessened the river's force. Score one for the pits. As Frank and I paddled past the trailer park, the river hardly resembled the swift, swirling water that had raged through in 1997.
Water now seems like an afterthought in some places.
One of those spots is just beyond the trailer park, where crews are finishing bridges across Freeway 41. River water is channeled into culvert pipes running beneath a dirt road used by construction workers to cross the river. We climbed out of the river, lugged the canoe across the road, then dropped it back into the water near the pipes. Frank got soaked as he pushed us back into the river. Workers enjoyed the show.